Working With Communication Styles: A Tip Sheet

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From NetSpeed Leader Volume 10, June 2003

We all know people who are different from us. How we respond to them depends on our awareness of communication style differences and our adaptability to them,and our openness to accepting and appreciating the mix.

Awareness. To work effectively with different communication styles, we need to be aware of them, beginning with our own. Here's a quick way to peg your own style. From each of these word pairs, pick the word that describes you better. For example, do you typically focus on facts or ideas? The present or the future?

Now, among the four categories below (Achiever, Anchor, Adventurer, Analyzer) find the one that includes most of the words you picked.

• Achiever (Logical and Practical): Facts, Present, Execute, Concrete, Detail, Reason, Think, Analyze, Evaluate, Objective
• Anchor (Practical and Personal): Facts, Present, Execute, Concrete, Detail, Reason, Value, Feel, Understand, Appreciate, Subjective
• Adventurer (Creative and Personal): Ideas, Future, Imagine, Abstract, "Big Picture," Value, Feel, Understand, Appreciate, Subjective
• Analyzer (Creative and Logical): Ideas, Future, Imagine, Abstract, "Big Picture," Reason, Think, Analyze, Evaluate, Objective

Of course, all the adjectives describe you at one time or another. But the ones you chose as typically you are just that—typically you. They represent your dominant communication style.

Think of people with whom you communicate regularly at work. Which words typically describe them? How would you characterize their style? Just for fun, how would you characterize the styles of Bill Gates, Oprah Winfrey, Colin Powell, and Jimmy Carter? After you decide, compare your responses with the characterizations at the end of this article.

Adaptability. Once you recognize style differences, adapting to them will lead to the most productive conversations and relationships. Use these simple steps to communicate with others:

With Achievers (Logical and Practical):

• Present facts and concrete details. Focus on the present.
• Stress actions rather than theories.
• Present your view with logic and solid analysis.
• Concentrate on objective data rather than feelings.

With Anchors (Practical and Personal):

• Present facts and feelings concretely.
• Focus on the present.
• Stress actions rather than theories.
• Address feelings, values, and understanding.
• Include subjective information and an appreciation for human issues.

With Adventurers (Creative and Personal):

• Focus on ideas and the future.
• Present the big picture.
• Encourage imagining.
• Address feelings, values, and understanding.
• Include subjective information and an appreciation for human issues.

With Analyzers (Creative and Logical):

• Focus on ideas and the future.
• Present the big picture.
• Encourage imagining.
• Present your view with logic and solid analysis.
• Concentrate on objective data rather than feelings.

We can be most successful in our communication if we focus not only on awareness of style differences and adapting to them, but also on accepting and appreciating styles—including our own. Rather than judging a colleague as overly methodical, look to that person as a procedural expert. Instead of seeing a team member as too focused on political correctness, appreciate his/her ability to keep the group out of trouble. And instead of apologizing for your big-picture focus, sign on for projects where it will be valued.

It helps to remember that we each bring something special to the table. Enjoy the mix, and you'll have the satisfaction of being even more effective and fulfilled on the job.

Bill Gates: Logical and Creative—an Analyzer
Oprah Winfrey: Creative and Personal—an Adventurer
Colin Powell: Logical and Practical—an Achiever
Jimmy Carter: Practical and Personal—an Anchor

Note: Much of this content is based on Working with Communication Styles, a NetSpeed Leadership module.