4 Communication Styles How They Impact the Workplace - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / 4 Communication Styles How They Impact the Workplace - Introvert Whisperer 4 Communication Styles How They Impact the Workplace Effective communication is the key to a successful work environment. In an age where businesses continue to fail due to rising numbers of disgruntled employees, communication methods matter now more than ever. In fact, experts at Villanova University state that “About 52 percent of American workers aren’t engaged, with 18 percent of American workers being actively disengaged. Only a paltry 30 percent of American workers can say that they feel engaged, inspired, and useful at work.” Utilizing appropriate communication styles is one of the best ways to raise employee engagement, lower workplace stress, and boost overall productivity. Unfortunately, picking the right communication style for you and your employees can be a difficult task. All employees are different â€" ranging from introverted to extroverted or somewhere in between â€" and so it stands to reason that their communication preferences will differ significantly. This can be especially true in regards to introverts, who are often uncomfortable verbalizing their personal communication needs, and so their communication styles are not as well known. Without the appropriate knowledge, dealing with a communication style different from your own can be like trying to speak with an alien species. Here, we will cover four communication styles and their respective impacts on the workplace. According to a recent report by The Economist Intelligence Unit and Lucidchart that covers research by Mark Murphy, there are four different types of communication styles: Analytical, Intuitive, Personal and Functional. While there are always exceptions, an introvert’s communication style can broadly fit under the labels of either Personal or Functional or even a mix of both. Knowledge in regards to these styles not only helps introverts to communicate effectively with one another, but is also useful for introverts and extroverts to communicate with each other. The Analytical Communication Style Analytical communicators love hard data and facts, with a strong preference for clear and precise language. In general, they are put off by people who use vague language and often lose interest when conversations move away from rationality. An example Murphy gives is of being in a meeting and hearing feedback that sales are positive. In this case, an analytical communicator would instantly wonder, “What does positive mean?” and request an actual statistic or figure to indicate the positive sales. One of the major advantages of this style of communication is that it can speed things up in the workplace, due to the rather unemotional and mainly logical nature of analytical communication. On the other hand, this style of communication can unintentionally come across as cold and abrupt, allowing for certain types of people, like introverts, to be taken aback. For this type of communication, it is best to provide as much detail as possible form the very beginning. The Intuitive Communication Style Intuitive communication is a style that significantly differs from analytical communication. As opposed to details and data, intuitive communicators tend to lean towards the bigger picture. They give more importance to broad overviews and don’t like being bogged down with specifics. Rather than focusing on a linear set of instructions, intuitive communicators prefer to skip directly to the key points. Even though this style of communication does not favor nuance, it can promote creative out-of-the-box thinking. Intuitive communicators also are quick to provide answers, keeping the larger picture in mind. The Personal Communication Style The personal communicator is one who values relationships and emotional language above all else. They tend to be better listeners than talkers and see communication as a way to build a few strong relationships with people. Many introverts prefer a personal communication style, as opposed to more hard-line stances. In Susan Cain’s bestseller, “Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking,” introverts are defined as those who “have a preference for a quiet, more minimally stimulating environment. Introverts tend to enjoy quiet concentration, listen more than they talk, and think before they speak, and have a more prudent and cautious approach to risk. Introverts think more, are less reckless and focus on what mattersâ€"relationships and meaningful work.” Here, we can see some overlaps with the personal style of communication. Communicators who fit within this category often value time alone to reflect to quietly reflect and organize their thoughts before speaking. Many also prefer to communicate via email, so as to present their thoughts in a more formulated manner. While these characteristics are especially valuable for B2B and B2C outreach, as well as internal communication, it’s important to ensure that those who prefer verbal communication should be adequately courteous in their digital communications. A personal style also offers increased diplomacy and can lead to true vested interests for the tasks at hand. However, this style can also quickly veer off into one-on-one conversations about more emotional matters, leaving those who prefer other communication styles quite frustrated. The Functional Communication Style Functional communicators are those who focus on and thoroughly enjoy processes. They like to think plans through step-by-step, and often want to go over every detail from start to finish so as to not miss out on any information. Some introverts also gravitate towards this communication style. For instance, in a previous article on what introverts can teach you about success, we mention that “An introvert has a tendency to stay with a goal until completion. They can begin with an idea, flesh it out, and follow it to completion with no problem.” These qualities make functional communicators well suited to be leaders and guides, as they are completely aware of every step within a given chain of process. On the other hand, functional communicators are often seen as boring and aggravating, due to their tendency to purposefully go through every single task in its entirety. Putting Your Knowledge to Work Now that you’re broadly aware of the four styles of communication, you can choose how to implement your favored types of communication within your workplace. Depending on the needs of your workplace, you could be a communication pioneer who aims for innovation in communication practices within your organization; a communication veteran, who combines experience and strives to stay ahead of the competition; or a communication coach, who changes an organization by leading employees and management to more effective communication. Regardless of your role, it is vital to pay attention to how your employees naturally communicate. Doing so will give you the necessary insight to categorize different types of communication and then streamline communication procedures so that information is effectively disseminated and absorbed. Finally, you need to give employees the tools and training they need to communicate across various styles, as no two employees are the same. Remember, it is only through creating an open and inclusive environment where employees can freely communicate that your organization will be posed for success. AUTHOR BIO: Frankie Wallace  is a writer from Boise, Idaho who contributes to a wide variety of blogs online. Wallace is a graduate from the University of Montana and enjoys writing about career development and job searching. Source: Pixabay Go to top Bottom-line â€" I want to help you accelerate your career â€" to achieve what you want by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my 4 Building Blocks to Relationships eBookâ€" the backbone to your Networking success and fantastic work relationships.  Grab yours by visiting here right now! Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleashing your professional potential. Introvert Whisperer