Communication styles play a big role in how well teams work together and whether their organizations can succeed.
Despite that, communication is something that we often take for granted. Sure, we can have conversations with people, but can we actually speak to them effectively? Do we hear what they’re trying to say in response?
Based on the fact that 86% of employees and executives feel that a lack of effective communication and collaboration is the main cause of workplace failures, I’m going to say no.
Even teams that do communicate effectively could improve their productivity by up to 25%, so those who don’t work on their communication styles are really missing out.
Types of communication styles
So, let’s start by diving into the different types of communication styles.
Passive communication
Passive communication styles can come in two different forms.
Firstly, when someone puts other people’s needs above their own.
Secondly, when they speak very little or not at all.
While factoring in other people’s needs and letting others be heard is important, there’s the risk that a passive communicator can take a backseat and not get their opinions or expertise heard. This can lead to them feeling invisible or underappreciated.
So make sure to encourage everyone to join in the conversation. That way, nobody fades into the background.
Also consider that some people may feel uncomfortable speaking up in a meeting for a range of reasons—from feeling anxious in large groups, to neurodivergence, to particularly loud colleagues, to preferring time to mull over ideas—so try to factor this in.
It can help to send agendas in advance so that attendees can put together talking points if they wish. This helps accommodate a wider range of communication styles.
Aggressive communication
Aggressive communication styles are when people come across as forceful or challenging. They’re often confrontational and want their voice to be heard.
This can be intimidating for colleagues, particularly those with more passive communication styles or who’ve experienced emotional trauma in their past.
Passive-aggressive communication
Passive aggression can be contradictory, with verbal and non-verbal communication not matching.
It could also come in the form of sarcasm, comments behind someone’s back, or speaking up after a meeting to complain.
Assertive communication
An assertive communicator can balance getting their opinion heard and hearing the opinions of others. They’re direct speakers who factor in other people’s feelings and ideas.
Out of all the communication styles, this one doesn’t always come naturally, but it can be learned.
How to cater to different communication styles
To get the most from a team, leaders need to learn how to cater to different communication styles. They also need to understand that communication styles can change, both because of the people around them and the work they do on themselves.
So let’s explore what you can do to cater to different communication styles in your business:
Offer different communication methods
Most of us prefer a particular way of learning, whether that’s audio, visual, or written.
For instance, I retain more of what I read than what I watch or listen to. If I’m on a call, I’ll usually take notes to help me process what everyone has said.
It’s easier than ever to support people’s different processing methods now, with most video platforms auto-generating captions.
So when you want to explain something, you can record a voice note or video, then have it automatically transcribed so that everyone can understand it. This ensures everyone gets what you’re trying to say, regardless of their communication styles, leaving fewer grey areas.
Analyze your own speaking style
It helps to understand your own speaking style so that you can understand what you’re getting right and what you could improve on.
Consider recording a call and getting a coach, mentor, or even AI to offer feedback on it. Or, if you’re writing something, send that over.
They can then help you identify areas where your message is clear and areas where you could improve to get your tone and direction right for your audience. It’s almost like a communication styles audit.
Listen actively
Good old active listening strikes again. Like communication itself, active listening is a skill. Learning it requires work and emotional intelligence.
Active listening means not interrupting other people when they talk, and focusing on what they’re saying, not on how you’re going to respond.
This can improve the quality of your working relationships and ensure you get the most from them. Active listening is important for all communication styles.
Slow down
Some of us have minds that jump from one idea to another to another before we’ve finished speaking a sentence.
While it’s not always easy for us to slow down, being in the moment and focusing on what the other person is trying to say can help us respond in the most effective way.
Jotting down ideas so that you can bring them up at the right moment ensures you can continue to listen without forgetting your point.
Consider cultural factors
Culture will always play a role in communication styles. Even the US and the UK, despite speaking the same language, have communication differences.
The British sense of humor doesn’t always translate well, for example. Which is why British TV shows often get remade with a US audience in mind.
Conclusion
There will always be some employees you find it harder to communicate with than others. The key is to understand, and accept, that everyone is different, and keep an open mind.
Listening to everyone and treating all communication styles as valid—alongside working on your own—will help you to get the most out of your team and help to prevent problems from spiraling.
Create a culture of communication
Encouraging employees to communicate about things outside of work, or sharing their workplace challenges, can help to bridge differing communication styles.
When employees have common ground, they’re more likely to work together and feel like they belong in the workplace.
Workrowd can help you manage your employee groups, programs, and events to get the most from them. Whether you’re looking to level up or just maintain your current success with less effort, we can help. Contact us today to book your free demo at hello@workrowd.com.
