Overview

Talking is easy; truly communicating with others requires greater skill. When you do not understand others, you cannot connect, relate, influence, collaborate, or resolve conflicts with them – and you certainly cannot lead them. Interacting with people who are unsure, angry, or have a different point of view or approach can be difficult because we become less skilled when caught up in emotional encounters with others. However, when we have a clear vision and when we truly listen to followers to ensure that their needs and perspectives are heard and understood, we are able to communicate in a more powerful way. Good communication skills, just like leadership skills, can be continuously learned and honed.

Different Communication Styles

There is a great deal of research available about different communication styles. People hear and process information differently, depending on their dominant communication style. A leader needs to understand this and consider ways to best reach her followers. Although a leader needs a strong, consistent voice and message, understanding other people’s communication styles allows leaders to adapt communications to reach a broader audience.

One model for understanding people better and communicating more effectively is to consider people’s primary communication style differences:

- Action (A): People with this style communicate from the WHAT perspective: what are the results, objectives, what is being achieved, what is being done. These communicators tend to be pragmatic, impatient, decisive, energetic, and willing to challenge others. To more effectively communicate and lead them, you must be receptive to their desire to understand the results and be open to their feedback and direct approach.

- Process (PR): People with this style communicate from the HOW perspective: what are the strategies, plans, facts, details. These communicators tend to be systematic, factual, and unemotional. To more effectively communicate and lead them, you must be receptive to their desire to understand the process and be open to their need to analyze and test out things.

- People (P): People with this style communicate from the WHO perspective: they value relationships, other people, and teamwork. These communicators tend to be spontaneous, empathetic, warm, and subjective. To more effectively communicate and lead them, you must be receptive to their desire for warmth and spontaneous communications that allow them to deeply connect with the leaders.

- Idea (I): People with this style communicate from the WHY perspective: they value concepts, theories, and innovation. These communicators tend to be charismatic, sometimes difficult to understand, full of ideas, provocative, and unrealistic. To more effectively communicate and lead them, you must be receptive to their need to look at things from another perspective and be open to considering other options and alternatives.

Another approach for understanding communication style differences is to identify people’s learning preferences. With this knowledge, communicators can then communicate in the audience’s preferred mode:

- Visual people need to actually see what is being talked about: they request to "see it in writing" or actually form pictures in their minds. Visual communicators are often extensive note takers. They may use words and phrases such as, "This is how I see it," "look at it this way," or "I think I'm getting the picture."

- Auditory people learn by hearing. They often listen to entire lectures or presentations without taking any notes. They generally like to ask, "How does this sound?" "Can we discuss this?" or "Are you hearing me?"

- Kinesthetic people think in terms of sensations or feelings. They often move their hands as they talk and respond physically as well as verbally. They like phrases such as, "How does this feel to you?" "I'm comfortable with that idea," or "Are you aware of this?"

To become aware of others’ communication styles, a leader must listen carefully. Once the leader understands, she can more confidently reach others because she can speak their language. It is important to clarify that leaders do not alter their message but rather can speak more intentionally about their vision.

Questions for Reflection:

1. What kind of communicator are you? Are you an A, PR, P, or I? Give an example of how you use your dominant communication style to reach others.

2. How do you prefer to receive information—are you more of a visual, auditory, or kinesthetic learner?

3. Think of one of your followers. How can you use what you’re learning here to better communicate with him?

4. How do you connect with people who communicate information differently than you?

Question

21-07-2024
Social Studies

High School

We appreciate your visit to Overview Talking is easy truly communicating with others requires greater skill When you do not understand others you cannot connect relate influence collaborate or resolve. This page offers clear insights and highlights the essential aspects of the topic. Our goal is to provide a helpful and engaging learning experience. Explore the content and find the answers you need!

Overview

Talking is easy; truly communicating with others requires greater skill. When you do not understand others, you cannot connect, relate, influence, collaborate, or resolve conflicts with them – and you certainly cannot lead them. Interacting with people who are unsure, angry, or have a different point of view or approach can be difficult because we become less skilled when caught up in emotional encounters with others. However, when we have a clear vision and when we truly listen to followers to ensure that their needs and perspectives are heard and understood, we are able to communicate in a more powerful way. Good communication skills, just like leadership skills, can be continuously learned and honed.

Different Communication Styles

There is a great deal of research available about different communication styles. People hear and process information differently, depending on their dominant communication style. A leader needs to understand this and consider ways to best reach her followers. Although a leader needs a strong, consistent voice and message, understanding other people’s communication styles allows leaders to adapt communications to reach a broader audience.

One model for understanding people better and communicating more effectively is to consider people’s primary communication style differences:

- Action (A): People with this style communicate from the WHAT perspective: what are the results, objectives, what is being achieved, what is being done. These communicators tend to be pragmatic, impatient, decisive, energetic, and willing to challenge others. To more effectively communicate and lead them, you must be receptive to their desire to understand the results and be open to their feedback and direct approach.

- Process (PR): People with this style communicate from the HOW perspective: what are the strategies, plans, facts, details. These communicators tend to be systematic, factual, and unemotional. To more effectively communicate and lead them, you must be receptive to their desire to understand the process and be open to their need to analyze and test out things.

- People (P): People with this style communicate from the WHO perspective: they value relationships, other people, and teamwork. These communicators tend to be spontaneous, empathetic, warm, and subjective. To more effectively communicate and lead them, you must be receptive to their desire for warmth and spontaneous communications that allow them to deeply connect with the leaders.

- Idea (I): People with this style communicate from the WHY perspective: they value concepts, theories, and innovation. These communicators tend to be charismatic, sometimes difficult to understand, full of ideas, provocative, and unrealistic. To more effectively communicate and lead them, you must be receptive to their need to look at things from another perspective and be open to considering other options and alternatives.

Another approach for understanding communication style differences is to identify people’s learning preferences. With this knowledge, communicators can then communicate in the audience’s preferred mode:

- Visual people need to actually see what is being talked about: they request to "see it in writing" or actually form pictures in their minds. Visual communicators are often extensive note takers. They may use words and phrases such as, "This is how I see it," "look at it this way," or "I think I'm getting the picture."

- Auditory people learn by hearing. They often listen to entire lectures or presentations without taking any notes. They generally like to ask, "How does this sound?" "Can we discuss this?" or "Are you hearing me?"

- Kinesthetic people think in terms of sensations or feelings. They often move their hands as they talk and respond physically as well as verbally. They like phrases such as, "How does this feel to you?" "I'm comfortable with that idea," or "Are you aware of this?"

To become aware of others’ communication styles, a leader must listen carefully. Once the leader understands, she can more confidently reach others because she can speak their language. It is important to clarify that leaders do not alter their message but rather can speak more intentionally about their vision.

Questions for Reflection:

1. What kind of communicator are you? Are you an A, PR, P, or I? Give an example of how you use your dominant communication style to reach others.

2. How do you prefer to receive information—are you more of a visual, auditory, or kinesthetic learner?

3. Think of one of your followers. How can you use what you’re learning here to better communicate with him?

4. How do you connect with people who communicate information differently than you?

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