Styles of

Communication
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Communication Methods
Best method of communication:
The method in which message is received by audience exactly without loss of intent and with less
time and cost expense.

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Different methods of communication

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Methods of Communication

Major methods of communication includes:

Spoken
Written
Body Language
Emotion/Vibration

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Spoken
A part of face-to-face communication.
Spoken communication can include:
• Meetings
• Dialogues
• Conversations
• Lectures
• Interviews
• telephone calls
• video conferencing
• Sermon
• Press releases etc.

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Written
Reach out to multiple people, spread across the globe, at the end of fingertips.

Example:
• Emails
• office memos
• Reports
• excel sheets
• presentation slides
• instant messaging
• Blogs
• social media networks
• Faxes
• Documents, etc.

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Body Language
Most of the body language is subconsciously done.
Body language includes the following:

1) Facial expressions
2) They way someone is standing or sitting
3) Hand movements
4) Eye movements
5) Breathing speed
6) Colouring
7) Throat noises
8) Body movements
9) Finger positions
10) Knuckle cracking … and so on

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Emotions/Feelings
Listener’s attention is captured or diverted by the way you show emotions and the
way speech is trebled.

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Communication Style Matrix

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Communication Style Matrix

Matrix is prescribed by Dr. Eileen Russo.

• This model has 4 quadrants or regions
• Axis
• Level of assertiveness
• Level we are willing to express our feelings

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Direct Communication

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Direct Communication

Direct Communication:
• Highly assertive but are not highly expressive
• Responsibility to the audience is quite low
• Highly competitive, speak very quickly and
directly without thinking much
• Quite decisive

“Get the job done now” is their motto

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Direct Communication
Tips to deal with Direct Communication:

1. Keep your message brief and precise

2. Focus on facts rather than feelings
3. You can also speak fast and say things directly without beating about
the bush
4. Ask any questions directly
5. Don’t waste their time with long explanations or too many details

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Direct Communication
Tips for Direct Communication:
1. Make an effort to listen fully to others and avoid interrupting
2. Allow time for ‘chatting’ at the beginning of a meeting
3. Recognize that others may feel the need to express their emotions about
topics
4. Recognize that brainstorming can .be helpful and not just a ‘time waster’
5. Take the time to show your appreciation for others’ contributions
6. Don’t use email for sensitive or complicated topics
7. Allow time in your schedule for questions and feedback
8. Try to use a soft tone whenever the news is hard

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Spirited Communication

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Spirited Communication
Spirited communicators are basically very happy people with lots of friendly
expressions and love for being the life of the party.
Strengths of a Spirited Communicator:
• Have Big Ideas
• Very innovative and quick
• Build strong relationships very fast
• Will adapt to any situation very quickly
• Intuitive
• Have wide network
• Very effective in motivating others
• Inspire others
• Highly persuasive
• Love to express their emotions freely “Show me the next big idea!”

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Spirited Communication
Weakness of a Spirited Communicator:
• Not interested in the small details
• Tend to skip over small steps
• Poor time management skills
• Low attention and excitement span
• Tend to get bored before completing a task
• Disorganized
• Dramatic at times
• Highly sensitive
• May not be professional and strict when time requires it
• May overestimate their own skills or even other’s skills

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Spirited Communication

How can you spot a spirited communicator:

• Speech is equally fast but they talk quite animatedly
• Hand gestures may be very loud
• Tell more stories and may go off in a different direction
• Very warm and loud
• Love to chit-chat and will have a lively handshake
• Workstation may be cluttered

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Tips for Better Communication with a

Spirited Communicator
• Skip the formality
• Express emotions
• Allow enough time for discussion
• Don’t rely too much on email
• Don’t give them a lot of details
• Allow them to share their ideas
• Acknowledge them for their great ideas

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Tips for a spirited communicator to communicate

better
• When considering new ideas to share, also consider whether or not you have
suggestions on how to put those ideas into action.
• Respect agreed-upon agendas and time limits when in meetings.
• Try to limit your sharing of personal anecdotes that take the group off-topic.
• Make sure you are allowing others to contribute their ideas and suggestions – and
that you are listening.
• Be certain any requests you make are clear and that you convey the reason for asking.
• Communicate your appreciation for others work and input.

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Systematic Communication

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Systematic Communication
Systematic communicator are detail oriented, very good at problem solving, may
not get involved personally.

Strengths of a Systematic Communicator:

• Very thorough, precise and accurate
• Think before doing any action
• Orderly, objective over any issue
• Diplomatic
• Won’t express their emotions that easily
• Need facts not emotions “Let’s do it right the first time”

• Will look into every detail

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Systematic Communication
Disadvantages of a Systematic Communication:
• Tend to lose the big picture often as they focus only on details
• Decision making is slow
• Will not want to risk anything before having all details in hand
• Will tend to analyse too deeply even for simple things
• May come across as too perfectionists
• May seem a little aloof and will not socialize very much
• Have only few friends

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Systematic Communication
How to identify a Systematic Communicator?
• Speech pattern is slow and steady
• Will talk in a low volume and precise
• Will listen more than talk
• Will tend to ask, rather than tell someone what to do
• Will not have a very firm handshake
• Gestures and eye movements are limited
• More silent in nature
• Very tidy and highly organized

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Tips to have a good communication with a

Systematic person
• Focus on facts
• Give the background on the situation or recommendation you plan to discuss
• Be precise
• Be aware of and honor precedents
• Do your homework
• Be thorough and organized
• Be tactful and diplomatic
• Be reserved
• Give them ample time to make decisions

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Tips for a Systematic person to communicate

better
• Recognize that not everyone follows linear thought process and decision-making.
• Realize that for good working relationships, consideration for others’ feelings is important.
• Learn to ask qualifying questions that will help you get the information you need.
• Make sure you understand the scope of a project.
• Take time to step out and look at the final outcome and not just individual parts.
• If you need to ask for more time for analysis, be able to explain the benefit of the information
you are working.

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Considerate Communication

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Considerate Communication
They are good listeners, value relationships, are a good team player and may be
conflict-averse.

Spotting a considerate communication:

• listen more than they talk
• speak softly and slowly
• warm tone of voice
• Interested in other person’s personal lives
• typically engage in small talk
• workspace is friendly, welcoming, and likely “Let’s talk about the impact on our people”
decorated with photos of key people in their life

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Considerate Communication

Strengths of a considerate communication:

• excellent colleagues, team players, and bosses
• usually good listeners
• build strong relationships based on trust
• caring, empathetic, and appreciative of others
• reliable, patient, and easy to get along with
• Strong team players

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Considerate Communication

Trouble spots of a considerate communication:

• may not give you a feedback (negative)
• have trouble making decisions
• Poor time management
• may not be a good delegator
• have a hard time adapting to change
• will tend to pick up the slack for everyone else
• may seem to place too much emphasis on feelings

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Tips for communicating with a considerate

communicator
• Focus on your relationship with them
• Ask them specifically for their feedback
• Encourage them to be candid
• Give them ample time to make decisions or give feedback
• Follow up as needed
• Offer to help; volunteer to take things off their plate
• Be very relaxed, amiable and have a cooperative approach
• Inform them early about upcoming changes
• Build a trust-based relationship with them

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Tips for a considerate communicator

• Recognize that other people’s opinions about a topic are separate from their opinions about
you.
• Realize that not everyone is comfortable discussing personal topics with work colleagues.
• Respect your own opinion as you respect others opinions.
• Recognize that you don’t have to be friends with everyone, but you should treat others and be
treated professionally.
• Understand that you can only do a certain number of tasks and should learn to say no to others
too.

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Comparison of communicators
Direct Spirited Systematic Considerate
Straight to the point Will tell stories and Precise and factual Doesn’t offer opinions
anecdotes

Poor listener Doesn’t hear well Seeks facts Sympathetic listener

Bold Enthusiastic Controlled Slow
Suggest power Clutters Organized Displays Photos

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Tips to communicate effectively within your group

1. Face to face meeting to discuss any intricate issue
2. Emails when it is a factual statement or just passing on information.
3. Direct discussion with whom there is a slight misunderstanding
4. Using presentations rather than a lecture or a monologue
5. Counsel rather than criticize
6. Displaying confidence and seriousness
7. Using simple language to explain difficult things
8. Using visuals rather than plain words wherever required
9. Using appropriate body language and hand gestures
10. Showing by doing wherever required rather than simply instructing

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Tips to communicate effectively within your group

11. Appropriate tone of voice needs to be employed
12. Avoid unnecessary repetitions
13. Creating a positive atmosphere to have conducive conversations
14. Using humour whenever required to lighten the mood
15. Be very articulate and clear in your speech
16. Avoid mumbling or interrupting when someone has the floor
17. Encourage feedbacks and sharing of information
18. Being appreciative of everyone’s input and allowing mutual encouragement
19. Maintaining time and schedule
20. Avoid exaggerating for whatsoever the reason may be

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