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Understanding Communication Styles

   

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communication-styles

Try this today
  • Read up on communication styles and associated behaviors.
  • Jot down a list of the people you see. Make another list of common communication behaviors, such as asking questions and listening, or interrupting often.
  • Analyze your own communication style. Do you interrupt when you disagree, or do you listen to all sides? Do you prefer to give directions right away or to listen to the ideas of others? Observe when your friends, family members and colleagues speak. Ask yourself the same questions about their methods of communicating.
  • Consider body language. Some people use their hands as they speak, but others remain still. Some look people straight in the eye when they speak or listen. Others look away or at the floor. 
  • Use tallies to record your interactions and note who demonstrated which communication styles. Does the speaker or listener change patterns depending on mood or level of interest?
  • After a week, review your notes and think about the patterns you see, and then repeat this activity for a second week.
Why
  • Study up! There are four common communication styles. Learn to identify them in yourself and in others.
  • Analyze yourself. When you disagree, do you interrupt or listen to all parties before speaking?
  • Pay attention to others. Observe whether people look you in the eye or look away.
  • Keep an interaction tally. For a week, record your interactions and determine who demonstrated which communication styles; then think about any patterns you see.

 

There are many ways to categorize communication styles, including through body language, tone of voice and eye contact. Psychologists have identified four communication styles: aggressive, assertive, persuasive and passive. Have you ever noticed that people have different styles of communicating? Some get to the point quickly; others beat around the bush. And what about that friend who just likes to hear himself talk? Psychologists say humans have a handful of communication styles, ranging from assertive to passive to controlling and aggressive. These approaches can be influenced by age, culture and geography, according to linguistics expert and author Deborah Tannen. There is no right or wrong communication style, but understanding your own style and those of people around you can improve your relationships.

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