Workplace Communication Styles + How To Find Yours

ASSERTIVE COMMUNICATION is a style in which individuals clearly state their opinions and feelings, and firmly advocate for their rights and needs without violating the rights of others. These individuals value themselves, their time, and their emotional, spiritual, and physical needs and are strong advocates for themselves while being very respectful of the rights of others. Instead, they express their anger by subtly undermining the object (real or imagined) of their resentments. Strategic management of this style of communication can involve phrases and actions that seek clarification when the intent is ambiguous. Aggressive communicators may dominate conversations and push their opinions onto others.

Discovering your communication style can help you understand how you differ from coworkers, allowing you to collaborate more effectively. The assertive communication style is the most effective because it balances confidence and respect, allowing individuals to express themselves clearly while maintaining positive relationships. A communication style refers to the habitual way an individual expresses themselves when interacting with others. This includes verbal communication (words and tone of voice) and non-verbal communication (body language, gestures, and facial expressions).

An entrepreneur pitching to investors with concise, attractive concepts rather than extensive, detailed business plans is an example of this style. However, intuitive communication may overlook critical details that affect decision-making (Watson & Hill, 2015). People-oriented communicators often express concern for others and use communication to establish rapport. Analytical communicators prefer dealing with facts and data, strive for precision, and tend to avoid making decisions based on emotion or intuition. Passive communicators tend to put other’s needs before their own, having difficulty saying “no” or setting personal boundaries.

A typical example could be an employee who doesn’t voice their discomfort with an increased workload, despite feeling overwhelmed. Over time, this communication style can lead to stress, resentment, and lowered self-esteem (Steinberg, 2007). In the workplace or at home or in our social lives, we all have to do a little bit of everything. But most of the times, one style is dominant and defines how we generally communicate. You need to choose a communication style that resonates with who you’re communicating with.

Aggressive communication is a style where individuals youmetalksreview.com express their thoughts and feelings without regard for others (Watson & Hill, 2015). Assertive communication implies expressing yourself effectively while respecting others’ rights and beliefs (Long et al., 2021). The Communication Style assessment offers a fresh perspective on human communication by giving the respondent what their composite communication style is. Don’t think that because someone you know or admire leads with an autocratic hand that you have to. For one, transactional communication does provide sufficient scope for feedback. There’s also the problem that transactional communication doesn’t allow people to build on existing ideas to develop a rapport.

Understanding transactional communication and how it differs from other forms of communication allows people to communicate more effectively in a range of circumstances. This two-way mode of communication can be done in-person or virtually, either through a face-to-face verbal or digital exchange through social media, emailing, or even video conferencing. Despite often not being front and centre in group dialogues, passive aggressive people can portray emotions that offer valuable insights into relationship dynamics. These communicators are ready to take on challenges and are able to say “no” when they need to. Additionally, assertive communicators put boundaries in place without being overtly aggressive or defensive. The trick to improving people skills, and cultivating a happy and productive workplace, is to know which type of communication is best suited to which situation.

If someone’s communication is vague, it can lead to misunderstandings and delays in completing tasks. Clear and concise communication means everyone understands their roles and responsibilities, leading to more efficient collaboration and successful outcomes. In addition to someone’s communication style, a project can also be affected by how clear someone’s message is. It can be confusing when somebody else communicates in a style you’re not used to. Or maybe you don’t understand why someone reacted to something that seemed normal to you.

There’s no one communication style that works for every situation. In the workplace, it’s helpful to adjust your personal style based on who you’re interacting with and the context. Certain people, such as analytical communicators, prefer clear and direct communication. Others value an empathetic approach that focuses on emotional intelligence. Recognizing your communication style through a communication styles test can significantly impact your interactions.

Often, they reverted to passive-aggressive communication because direct communication historically didn’t work for them. According to the Mayo Clinic, these types of people are uncomfortable being direct about their needs. This can naturally cause a team member to react defensively, which can manifest as increased aggression.

online communication styles

This includes not just body language, but interactive activities as a means of communicating or emphasizing points. For instance, a business analyst might use charts and diagrams to present trends and data. While this approach can simplify complex information, dependence solely on it may exclude nuances explicit in verbal or written communication (McDougall & Pollard, 2019). An example would be a motivational speaker who uses personal experiences to inspire and captivate their audience. While this style can make messages more engaging and memorable, it can also become distracting if it veers too far off topic (Long et al., 2021).

Aggressive Communication Style

✅ As we’ve already mentioned, different people respond to different communication styles. Nail your purpose and you’ll be able to employ candidates who have the right communication styles to drive productivity and excel as a leader in the market. Truly effective communication in the workplace doesn’t rely solely on promoting one style primarily.

This style involves demonstrating genuine interest in team members’ lives, listening effectively, and encouraging open discussions. A leader practicing this style might regularly check on their team’s well-being and motivate them through recognition and appreciation (Long et al., 2021). For instance, a corporate lawyer addressing a board meeting would adhere to a formal communication style. While this style is appropriate in numerous professional settings, it can be perceived as distant in more intimate or casual contexts (McDougall & Pollard, 2019).

Healthy Relationships

If you exhibit passive-aggressive communication, try to identify the underlying reasons for your behavior and work towards addressing them. Earlier, there was only verbal and non-verbal communication, but now there is another more effective form of communication, which is Online communication. Many people have started to communicate with the help of online communication. In fact, during the recent pandemic of COVID-19, online communication has picked up like anything. As a Personal communicator, you value emotional language and connection, and you use that as your mode of discovering what others are really thinking. You find value in assessing not just how people think, but how they feel.

A real-world example could be an employee subtly highlighting a problem by commenting on the challenges of a task, rather than directly stating the concern. While indirect communication can help maintain harmony, it can easily result in misunderstandings if the indirect cues are not interpreted correctly (Long et al., 2021). Empathetic communication is characterized by understanding and sharing the feelings of others. This style is indicated by active listening and the acknowledgment of others’ emotions (Paxson, 2018).

As beneficial as transactional communication can be, there are a handful of challenges that transactional communicators, and the workplace as a whole, should employ to hone their communication prowess. As we’ve already alluded to, each communication style can elicit specific emotions, and consequently actions, from whoever is on the receiving end. From empowerment to valued, and on the other end of the spectrum, frustration and concern. As a result, passive individuals do not respond overtly to hurtful or anger-inducing situations. Instead, they allow grievances and annoyances to mount, usually unaware of the build up.

  • Since the last few years, Facebook has acquired WhatsApp, making it part of one of the largest social media giants.
  • There are several communication styles in the workplace that shape how information is conveyed.
  • When dealing with assertive communicators, managers should use direct responses that convey respect.
  • Simply identifying a team member’s communication style isn’t enough.

Quiz: What Is Your Communication Style?

In the workplace, this style can lead to miscommunications and unresolved tensions. Communication is the foundation of human interaction, shaping relationships, workplaces, and social dynamics. The way we communicate influences how others perceive us, how we handle conflicts, and how effectively we express our thoughts and emotions. Understanding different communication styles allows us to recognize our own tendencies, adapt to various social situations, and improve our ability to connect with others. Strong communicators are an important part of any successful team.

In a friendly gathering they might forcefully debate their views, turning a casual conversation into a tense interaction. You may be used to doing a lot of your communication online, either via text message or email. Your communication style online will be similar to your style face-to-face, but you may have to make some adjustments. LaFave points to gender as one outside factor that can negatively affect how communication is interpreted.

This communication style quiz helps you get a clearer picture of your personal style and identifies areas for growth. This is often the first step in improving your communication skills so that you can enjoy more meaningful, productive interactions in the workplace. Furthermore, being aware of styles such as passive communication and aggressive communication helps you spot potential collaboration issues before they escalate. In short, effective communication is key to creating a positive and productive work environment. When you understand your team’s different communication styles, you’re better equipped to bridge gaps between employees who think and communicate differently. For example, a functional communicator who prefers detailed, step-by-step instructions may find it frustrating to work with an intuitive communicator who focuses on the big picture.

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