What is your communication style?
Good communication skills are important. Having earned my degree in Communications, I’ve taken a lot of classes on communication theory (yawn), but one of the things I found most valuable was learning about communication styles. Knowing our own communication style and the styles of those around us, helps us to hear and be heard by others. Tailoring our message to the communication styles of our clients and customers helps us build quality relationships with them, keeping them happy and coming back for more.
“Picking the wrong type of communication for a particular audience, whether it’s one person or a thousand, can negatively impact how your ideas and messages are received.” — Mark Murphy, Understanding The 4 Communication Styles
On his Leadership IQ blog, Mark Murphy discusses four communication styles—Analytical, Intuitive, Functional, and Personal. I’ll provide a quick overview here:
- Analytical communicators share data, not feelings. They prefer specifics; vagueness is their kryptonite. Analytical communicators are sometimes seen as cold, but their command of data makes them experts in their fields. If your customer is analytical, be sure to be armed with facts and figures.
- Intuitive communicators see the big picture and can get bogged down by details. They prefer to give (and receive) broad overviews, and they get to the point quickly. Intuitive communicators can be impatient, but they are creative and think big. Show intuitive customers the big picture; if they want details, they’ll ask.
- Functional communicators are detail oriented, preferring clear timelines and taking steps in order. They make sure to get things done correctly and on time. Functional communicators can sometimes lose others in the details, but they are your go-to when you have tasks that need to be completed. Functional customers want details, so be sure to give them everything you’ve got and a timeline for implementation.
- Personal communicators prize healthy relationships. They are kind, respectful, and strive to make others feel valued. While personal communicators are sometimes seen as overly emotional, they have high emotional intelligence. If your customer is a personal communicator, she will appreciate your kindness and respect.
No one communication style is inherently better than another, and there is no denying they are very different. Imagine communication styles as different languages: Hearing and being heard is sure a lot easier if we know what language to speak.
So, again, what is your communication style? At Ascribe, we can help mesh your style with that of your customers, making sure your message is received.
