Effective Communication Styles

People have different ways of communicating. The many styles include differences in body language, tone, vocabulary and even in volume. Although there are some styles of communication that other people may consider rude or antisocial, they may be necessary in special situations. Here, we will explain different and effective communication styles, and where they can be applied.

Communication

Communication is the exchange of thoughts and ideas between at least two parties. The basic pattern of two-way communication involves one party expressing a thought or idea, the other party receiving it and then communicating a response. What can complicate and enhance communication is the delivery method. Call America, a telecommunications company, offers a guide that explains different styles of communication.

Decisive communication

One style, known as the driver, is someone who tends to make quick decisions. When they speak, they are very goal-oriented. The questions they ask may be brisk, direct, and geared towards finding out what is needed to reach a certain goal. They may assume a physical posture that is stiff, awaiting to receive heavy information and prepared to return at full speed. This might turn off someone who needs time to be heard and their feelings explored through conversation, but decisive communicators could also be very beneficial in high-pressure settings that require decisive leadership. A military setting or team sports like football and basketball are places where you can expect drivers to be looked up to as effective communicators.

Expressers

"Expressers" are high-energy communicators. They are very physical communicators, often using props or physical touch when communicating with people. Expressers will listen to you, as long as you don't go on with lists and lists of facts and reasons. They can be very effective communicators of ideas and visions, if you need someone to convince others to believe in it. Expressers can thrive in communicating with teams working on new projects with definite goals.

Complicated Issues

When communication is needed to help people with personal problems or complicated problems, "relaters" and "analytical" communicators might be the most effective. Relaters like to be helpful and will listen to just about anyone. Relaters can offer a soft hug and facial expressions that match the tone of the feelings they are absorbing from coworkers. They will ask why until the root feelings are expressed, which can be healthy. Analytical communicators will press on to reach facts and technical information. They may not seem very personable at first, but by communicating the straight facts and focusing on the issues at hand, analytical communicators can spawn other ideas in solving problems.

Effective communicators

An effective communicator can express the thoughts to others in a way that the message is clearly received and understood with little doubt as to what the communicator wants or needs. It doesn't mean that the receiver always agrees, but at least the thoughts are understood. So to call one style the most effective really depends on the situation at hand.