The way you communicate with subordinates and colleagues plays a crucial role. After all, leading people is primarily about the ability to communicate. Being a subordinate to someone who is difficult to talk to, who is reserved with words, and cannot clearly express their needs, is frustrating. If you don’t communicate with people, you will never build a strong team. However, there is a difference between ordinary conversation and the art of communication.
While it is possible to develop certain good communication habits, each of us is a little different, and our communication styles reflect that. It is important to understand your own style and to be able to identify the styles used by your colleagues or clients.
What do we mean by communication?
Spoken words make up only a small part of how we communicate with those around us. Words are great for clarifying misunderstandings, but in everyday communication, nonverbal cues such as facial expressions play a significant role.
Written and electronic communication is another important area. Managers often handle dozens or even hundreds of emails every day. In all of them, it is important to express yourself clearly and precisely, assuming that recipients will try to read between the lines.
Across all these types of communication, different styles can be observed. Let’s look at four of the most common styles used by managers.
Analytical style
Some managers like to base their decisions on data and use it to support what they say. The analytical communication style is especially common among senior management. It is less personal but commands respect. Managers with this style support their statements with real facts and figures. They rely on logic rather than emotions, unlike others who make decisions based more on intuition or feelings. Analytical communicators avoid idle chatter – there is no small talk about the weather or what was for dinner yesterday. Conversations are always to the point.
It is worth noting that the analytical style is not appealing to everyone. It suits managers who do not favor excessive personal contact and prefer to maintain a certain professional distance in the workplace.
Intuitive style
The intuitive style can be seen as the opposite of the analytical style. While analytically minded managers consider all the details before making decisions, intuitive managers do not focus on specifics. They take a concept as a whole and enjoy expressing it visually.
Intuitive managers provide short and clear instructions, telling others only what directly concerns them and avoiding unnecessary details. They are full of ideas and often come up with grand concepts, which need to be respected and given the opportunity to be expressed. They also prefer to present their thoughts and key points visually, using charts and diagrams during presentations.
When communicating with an intuitively minded colleague, it is important to respect their ideas so they do not feel undervalued. Look at matters from a shared perspective and accommodate their visual representations.
Functional style
Functionally oriented managers focus on the process as a whole. It usually takes them time to create a step-by-step project plan. They are meticulous and need to ensure everything is correct. In communication, they typically require a complete plan before discussions, ask many questions, and rely on feedback from their colleagues to grow professionally. The functional style is best recognized by the large number of questions asked, many of which relate to feedback.
Personal style
Do you tend to focus on relationships and emotions? Then you likely use the personal communication style. Managers with this focus empathize with their colleagues in order to understand their thoughts. They respond better to personal interactions, want to know how others feel, and pay attention to nonverbal cues – something that cannot be fully conveyed via email. Open expression of feelings is also important, as this type of manager needs this information. Surprisingly, in business, relying on personal intuition can sometimes be more effective than relying solely on numbers and logic.
Mixed styles
Many people combine several communication styles. However, everyone has their dominant style. When two managers with completely different communication styles meet and do not know how to communicate effectively with each other, misunderstandings can easily arise. Therefore, we should not only consider how we communicate with others but also learn to recognize the communication styles of those around us. The ability to listen, adapt communication to the situation, and work well with different types of people is one of the important soft skills that can make team management significantly easier for managers.
Not confident yet? Don’t worry – no one is born knowing it. Every management education program provides information on communication, and MBA studies are no exception.
