Communication style is associated with the ways one says whatever he or she says.
Often, you would have seen people responding in the same manner how something is said to them- that manner is nothing but communication style, and while talking to someone, often the style matters more than the actual words.
Business leaders and managers who are well aware of different communication styles and capable of adapting their communications are more successful. This post will take you deep into the world of different communication styles and their key features, so let us get started right away-
Table of Contents
What are Communication Styles?
Communication Styles are broad methods through which people tend to communicate with each other.
It helps in developing leadership traits by shaping a positive environment across the workplace and community. Learning different communication styles helps mold our words’ tone and content with different people to keep the conversation smooth and peaceful.
Importance of Communication Styles
One of the most important components for personal development and long-lasting building relationships is your communication style.
Different people have different manners of communicating due to diverse backgrounds, cultural differences, separate upbringings, and varied life experiences. The skill of dealing with varied conversations comes with effective communication techniques and the ability to socialize well.
People also experience breaking down of communication skills due to diverse patterns and habits in routine life. Learning effective communication skills becomes necessary because communication and success are directly proportional to each other.
Moreover, connecting and socializing with people from diverse backgrounds helps in broadening the knowledge and mind.
Why Managers should know different Communication Styles?
As per their social style, employees describe an ideal manager’s characteristics in very different manners, which can help you understand how different styles are crucial in business management.
- Employees who are Drivers prefer their managers to be sincere and direct
- Employees who are Expressives like a manager who is open in communication, empathetic, friendly, and trusting
- Employees who are Amiables enjoy working with a manager who shows confidence in employees and is reliable and honest
- Employees who are Analytics like to work for managers who are knowledgeable and open in sharing information
That is why managers need to be aware of different styles and employees’ behavioral tendencies, and their approach towards employee interaction.
When managers are versatile and know the needs of different communication styles, they can solve the tasks and issues related to –
- Conflict
- Performance reviews
- Goal-setting
The Relation between Communication Styles and Connections
Knowing different communication styles, one can feasibly socialize with others and build connections by conversing about relatable things and events.
Thus, learning communication styles is a prerequisite to develop bonds and connections, which is an essential aspect of life. The rationale for building connections in life are as follows:
- Stable interpersonal connections give out positive vibes that improve both mental and physical health.
- Good communication, manners, and connections aids in building a successful career.
- Efficacious communication styles and long-lasting bonds help in ensuring a familiar and healthy environment.
- People in relationships are less prone to depression and anxiety disorders.
Now, when you are well aware of the importance of different styles of communication, let us now go through their types here and now-
Types of Communication Styles
Human beings develop several behavioral and non-behavioral characteristics during their lifetime, which usually become non-amendable or difficult to change.
But people shall learn all styles to connect with others feasibly and augment their base of thinking and conversating.
Following is the description of four types of communication styles which people must learn:
1. Passive Communicators
Passive communication is a communication style where one faces difficulty and hesitation in expressing their thoughts, feelings, and opinions and fails to identify their needs and safeguard their rights.
The inability to communicate and convey thoughts and emotions leads to miscommunication and misunderstandings, thus creating anger and frustration.
The common traits to identify passive communicators are difficulty making eye contact, poor posture, and failure to assert themselves. However, these people are the safest to share secrets with or any personal issues as they are compassionate and understanding.
2. Aggressive Communicators
Aggressive communication is a style where individuals convey their feelings and thoughts dominantly and advocate their rights at others’ costs.
These people are usually rude, abusive, and cold-hearted. By dominating the conversations, aggressive communicators fail to listen to the problems of others.
Common features to recognize aggressive communicators are frequent interruptions in conversations, intense glaring, excessive condemning nature, and loud-mouthed. However, individuals with this conversational nature have many possible chances of becoming great leaders in the future as they can make others follow them.
3. Passive-Aggressive Communicators
Passive-Aggressive communicators are those individuals who are passive in their real-life but have an untold resentment that they reveal in indirect ways to others. People of such nature feel stuck, confused, and become guilty of their mistakes.
Common traits to identify passive-aggressive communicators are difficulty expressing their resentment, unusual muttering, and excessive sarcastic statements.
These individuals generally show those facial expressions that do not match what they are feeling or meant to say.
4. Assertive Communicators
Assertive communication style is a type of communication style where individuals convey their feelings and thoughts to others and advocate for their rights without violating other people’s rights.
Assertive people care about their time and emotional needs and respect the problems and rights of others.
Traits to recognize assertive communicators are stating and pronouncing the words clearly and firmly, having a relaxed body posture, maintaining good eye contact, controlling emotions, having a calm tone of voice, and standing up for their rights. People of such nature often use ‘I’ statements to imply ownership, and they can deny other people politely.
It involves listening to others’ problems, having a compassionate nature, and developing a matured mindset by denying certain important aspects for personal development. People should develop an assertive communication style to develop an unbiased perspective and maintain and control the balance of emotions and work.
Conclusion
Communication styles play an important role in an individual’s self-development by improving communication skills, socializing well, building self-confidence, and respecting fellow individuals’ emotions and problems.
However, the assertive communication style is considered the best style, but one cannot deny the other three styles’ importance.
A workplace or a community shall contain diverse nature because a single dominant communication style would restrict discussions, lack of differences in opinions, and make the community or workplace monotonous with individuals having the same thoughts.
It would stop the process of learning and knowledge building.
Thus, one should respect individuals of any communication style and be compassionate towards their problems.
Are you aware of your communication style? What style of communication do you expect from your manager? Share your thoughts with us in the comment section below.
