Finding Your Natural Communication Style

Do you know what your natural communication style is?  This is the natural or default way you talk and share information with others.

We all have a natural way of communicating based on our personality and temperament.  You may not have previously considered your natural communication style, but doing so can help you better manage key relationships, such as with employees, colleagues, customers and suppliers.

By achieving crystal clarity of how your behaviour impacts others and how you’re perceived, you can adjust your style of communicating for different environments and situations.  This doesn’t mean you have to abandon who you are and receive a personality transplant with every single person you meet.  It is about finding the balance of being you, while still being professional and in line with your company’s culture and values.

Tap into Your Hard-Wiring

There are several different types of communication styles: assertive, aggressive, passive passive-aggressive, submissive and manipulative. If you don’t know what yours is, take a personality, psychological or self-assessment test.

Once you have got to grips with your natural communication style and the way you are hard-wired, you are then in a better position to make it work for you. Allied to this is understanding that someone else’s natural communication style may be different to yours. Don’t be insulted if your garrulous approach appears to be falling on deaf years when the other person barely utters a whisper in response.  They may just be an introvert.  Likewise, if you are the shy and retiring type, don’t hide under the table if you feel an assertive type is barking at you. Read more here on the ‘war’ between introverts and extroverts

Here’s how to use your natural communication style to make a connection:

Listen: this is a vastly underrated skill, but pay attention to what people are saying and how they are saying it. As Andrea Nierenberg points out in Network Like You Mean It, people are not going to tell you their natural communication style, so you must glean it by “observation and careful listening”. To get a good feel for their styles, observe their non-verbal behaviours as well, such as facial expressions, gestures and posture. Then, you will be in a great position to-

Adapt your natural communication style: For example, if you are an extrovert and naturally assertive and the person you are talking with is shy, passive and an introvert, you should dial back your outgoing characteristics and present a more laid-back way of talking.  That way, your counterpart will be better able to relate to you.  Conversely, if someone is forceful and direct, don’t beat around the bush, get straight to the point.  Speaking the other person’s language is essential.

Bridge the communication gap: once your styles are in harmony, the dialogue can truly open up.  The better able you are to adapt the less likely the chances for clashes and confusion.

The Key to Success

Effective communication has always been critical in business world.  Every day you come across people from all walks of life, both within and outside your company, and the key to successful communication is with dialogue not a monologue.  By finding your natural communication skills you will be able to work more effectively with colleagues and clients, reduce the chances of conflict and create more opportunities to forge stronger relationships with more people.

All of this will put you in a better position to achieve your business goals.

If you’re looking for help on determining your natural style, Natural Training has a variety of solutions available to you – ranging from comprehensive training programmes, through to surveys and pod-casts that you can access at your leisure. To find out about all of these options, give us call or e-mail us.

And remember, be yourself!