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How to communicate with colleagues: 4 styles of communication

Any team is based on communication: to work cohesively and productively, you need to be able to talk, listen and negotiate. And each person has a particular style of communication. Let's look at them and see how to find a common language with all

 

On the style of communication depends on how the relationship in the team. To come to an understanding, you must literally talk to a person in his language. Experts have distinguished 4 basic types of communication between colleagues, each having its own distinctive features. Understanding them will help you find your own style and approach to those around you.

  1. leadership style: demanding, motivating, confident

Every team must have a leader. Not always he is a direct leader, but the leader unites people around him, inspires them. This man sometimes makes difficult decisions, it is aimed at the result and must clearly see the whole picture. The leader is not without confidence, determination, courage, openness, determination, attentiveness, persuasiveness. One person cannot understand everything perfectly, so a leader must listen to others and find the right application of everyone's skills.

A true leader radiates calmness and confidence, he senses the slightest changes in the situation and reacts to them. The success of any endeavor depends largely on whether the leader is able to lead the team, give clear, correct orders, and not give in to emotion. A person with leadership skills, assessing the situation coolly, finds the right solutions where no one else would see them.

Such a person's communication style can be described as slightly authoritarian, but effective. The leader gives instructions and controls their implementation. He tries to speak concretely, firmly, motivating others with his words. Leaders are often impatient, they finish sentences for others and expect the same clarity and concision from the interlocutor.

Leaders are not afraid of competition and conflict. Nor is he afraid of public opinion; he always speaks his mind and demands the same from his interlocutors. An important trait of a leader is that he can openly admit a mistake in front of the team, take responsibility for himself.

How to find common ground with the leader: speak in few words, clearly and to the point, don't be afraid to speak directly what you think. Make sure that words don't differ from deeds - the leader won't tolerate it.

 

  1. Social Style: flexible, unobtrusive, open.

People who have this type of communication find it much easier to find common ground with the other three groups. Such people are good at organizing and coordinating a team, can be excellent mentors and assistants. They feel great in areas based on the interaction of people. Social style of communication is also suitable for the manager, as it will help him to build a friendly atmosphere in the team.

People with this type of communication express themselves softly, unobtrusively, speak openly, but can be flexible where it is required. They are kind, sympathetic and empathic. Show concern for others, strive to help, but will not impose their society. They are attentive and understanding, you can ask such people for advice in any situation.

How to find a common language with a social communicator: be sincere and friendly, and you will easily create a strong connection.

 

  1. Free style: bold, curious, innovative

In the team there are always people who stand a little apart, because they value freedom more than anything else. They do not like conventions, but experiments and bold ideas in the representatives of the free style delight. They like to take risks and think outside the box. Free-loving man sets ambitious goals, and the doubts of others only encourage him. He easily looks at the issue from a new angle and finds the best solution in different situations.

But the framework and strict rules hinder the creative development of such people, so they tend to distance themselves from the team and implement their ideas alone, often chaotic and non-standard. If you need an executor for a complex risky task, it is best to assign it to a freedom-loving communicator.

Minus of these people: they quickly get bored with any routine, and they can give up midway just because of boredom. They also do not work well with a strict schedule and in need of freedom. Freethinking communicators communicate in a friendly manner, like to joke, quickly become the soul of the team.

If such a person is not a leader himself, it is easy to question the authority of others, and his irascibility, temperament and impertinence can provoke conflicts with colleagues and management. But such an employee is necessary to any team, as not afraid to say "yes" to the boldest ideas and can bring fresh breath even in the most conservative system.

How to find common ground with a freedom-loving colleague: do not pretend, be yourself. If you have bold ideas, then it is to him you can express them without fear of being misunderstood. Also with such a person is always fun, so relax and have fun communicating.

 

  1. Serious style: precise, consistent, logical

These are the kind of people who are best at formulating tasks and completing them with enviable persistence and productivity. Such employees are reliable, serious, and consistent. They practically never say no to management or colleagues. Always on excellent with the tasks, getting maximum pleasure from it. In all their words and actions can be traced accuracy, logic, thorough approach. Therefore, for routine tasks there is no better candidate than a serious communicator.

You can really rely on him in everything. Such people are sincerely committed, do not let down those who rely on them, and themselves. Their actions are weighted, therefore predictable. They are very organized, expect punctuality and commitment from others. They work well with a clear schedule and follow certain rules.

They communicate carefully, try to choose words so as not to hurt anyone. They speak concretely, avoiding figurative expressions. They adhere to traditional values both in life and in communication, they are polite and unobtrusive. They could seem too meticulous because of their love of details.

How to find a common language with a serious employee: always prepare the conversation well, to deliver information accurately and consistently. Feel free to ask for his help with a task that requires extreme accuracy and precision. Avoid insincerity and express your intentions openly.

To communicate effectively with people, both at work and in everyday life, it is important to understand the communication style used by the interlocutor. You should always pay attention to the positive aspects of the type of communication and rely on them when you want to give a person a task. The disadvantages of one type or another can easily be bypassed if you know about them in advance and do not emphasize them.

If you learn to distinguish these 4 types, you will easily find common ground with everyone and achieve better results in working together.

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