Tag Archives: Talk

From You v. Me to We: Seven Strategies to Talk to Your Communication Opposite
When Jodi said the headphones cost a fortune, Mike was confused. The price tag was $350 – expensive, but a fortune? Jodi speaks in superlatives, and superlatives don’t compute in Mike’s literal brain.
Rory went off on two tangents before returning to his original point. As a systematic communicator, Carlos missed Rory’s conversational detour and was so lost he missed Rory’s point.
What’s going on? What we see here is a failure to communicate due to seemingly incompatible communication styles.
Research pertaining to communication style uncovers four different communication styles that are determined by two factors – pace and people-orientation. “Visionaries” are fast-paced, people-oriented communicators. “Achievers” are fast-paced task-oriented communicators. “Reflectives” are slower-paced, task-oriented communicators. “Likeables” are slower-paced, people-oriented communicators. Each style has its own strengths and weaknesses. And like oil and vinegar, they don’t blend perfectly, but they do complement each other.
Communication skill training is never complete without analyzing communication styles and learning how to communicate effectively with different personality tendencies. Here are some dos and don’ts to help you bridge the communication style gap.
1, Ask the question, what’s my communication style? Take a simple communication test to find out.
Start your communication style development with yourself and your own conversational style. I offer a free communication style quiz on my website at: www.speakstrong.com. It’s also available in my book PowerPhrases! http://www.speakstrong.com/PowerPhrases!.html
Don’t: assume everyone has the same style you do, or that your style is better than others.
Why not? What seems normal to you may seem picky, illogical or undecipherable to someone else.
Do: Know thyself. Get conscious of your own communication style, communication strengths, and communication flaws.
Why: The better you understand how you communicate, the more… Continue reading