Business Efficacy

There are no right or wrong communication styles, only effective and ineffective ones. Effective communicators know this and:

1. Adapt themselves to different styles to enhance communication.

2. Recognize which communication style best fits specific circumstance.

3. Avoid judgements about other people’s communication .

‘Adapt or die’ is a bit extreme, but true in many personal interactions. A slow speaker mistrusts a fast talker. A social person gets uncomfortable talking to someone who doesn’t respond in kind. These differences come from personality, environment, position and pressure.

A supervisor under pressure to get a report out can’t take time to listen to the staff person’s weekend adventures. Later, when the report is done, they may take the time to go back and hear all about it. Both parties need to recognize the situation, respect the other person’s needs and accommodate them as appropriate. Supervisor: ‘I’m against a tight deadline. Can you get me this information quickly? Staff person: “Here’s the information you requested. Maybe later we can catch up.”

If the supervisor spent time being annoyed by the staff person’s talk of their weekend, or the staff person got offended that the supervisor wouldn’t listen to them, both would leave the conversation dissatisfied. Their relationship suffers and neither wants a repeat. Taking the time to acknowledge the staff person’s communication style and giving a reason to cut it short, makes it easier for the staff person to accept it as a short term, appropriate to the situation, adjustment.

Know and work with both your style and that of others. It’s a great way to become a truly effective communicator.