What's My Communication Style?  

The Problem with Communication
Communication. It's probably one of the most frequently discussed issues in the workplace. Every day we interact with others in an attempt to communicate, yet frequently that communication misses the target, creates anger or frustration, causes mistakes, and more. If communication is so common, why does it miss its mark so often?

There are a number of reasons, but much of the time it's because we are different in how we communicate, and that difference can create misunderstanding. For example, one person may be explaining something in great detail to a person who has difficulty processing detail. The first person is sure that he is giving everything that is needed to understand; however, the second person is so lost half-way through the conversation that he simply tunes out. Not wanting to appear "stupid," the second person nods in agreement, then walks away wondering what transpired.

Neither person was behaving badly, incompetent, or just not interested. They were simply different in how they communicate, and that difference created a miscommunication.
 

What is Communication Style?
Communication is the act of sending and receiving messages. Style is how we behave. So communication style, then, is how we behave when we are sending and receiving messages. Our personal communication style is that style we use most often, when we are able to communicate in our most natural way. You see it every day. There are loud communicators and quiet ones. There are detailed communicators and those who are not. There are those who are friendly and caring, and those who are more direct and analytical. When we don't understand those differences, communication can become a problem.
 

The Program
In this program we use a simple, but accurate, instrument, the What's My Communication Style?^TM profile, to determine each person's dominant communication style: direct, spirited, considerate, or systematic. This can be done ahead of the session (most common) or during the session. (Click here to view a sample report in Adobe pdf format.) A program is then presented that can last from one to three hours that helps participants understand communication styles, their own style, and strategies for improving it.

The intent is not to change people, but to raise awareness that understanding style is critical to effective communication. People quickly learn that this is practical information as opposed to theoretical and something they can use immediately.

The session is highly interactive and includes the opportunity for participants to break out into their respective style groups to discuss the strengths and drawbacks of their particular style, providing one of the greatest opportunities for real learning.

Results
The primary benefits resulting from this session are:

A new understanding of one's personal communication style and its implications A better understanding of your co-workers' styles and new ways to communicate more effectively A better understanding of team communication strengths and weaknesses New insights on how to improve customer relationships and sales results Useful strategies on how to reduce arguments and conflict New insights on how to improve personal relationships

Teaching Communication Style with a Twist
Using our What's My Communication Style? profile as a foundation, 190 sales professionals from adidas learned a bit more about themselves and their approach to communicating. Then it was off for a little fun, team development, and skill building, as 21 teams worked to solve the mystery of our Mission Impossible Caper. Fifteen adidas sales managers masterfully played some very unique characters as their people probed for clues. In all, it was an energizing, yet informative kick-off to their week's activities. Click on the pictures to enlarge and enjoy!

Allergan BDMP Builds the Team and Tackles an "Impossible Mission"
Good communication and coordination is important in Allergan's Biostatistics Data Management and Programming, so their group of 100 spent a day in our Building High Performance Teams session. Using such tools as our Polygon Puzzle and What's My Communication Style? profile, the group learned more about each other and the skills they bring to collaborative problem solving tasks. They also reviewed complicated technical procedures using the TGI Quiz Show Game software that provided an energetic and stimulating team challenge. After the training, the entire group exercised their new skills in our ur Mission Impossible Caper!, solving clues and successfully identifying the notorious jewel thief. An enlightening and energizing day for all.  Click on the pictures to enlarge and enjoy!

Communication Style to Help Housing Leaders
Recently the Philadelphia Housing Authority, one of the most respected organizations of its kind in the country, conducted training for its leaders in two sessions of 100 each. As part of that day's training, Teambuilding, Inc. conducted a 2-hour session on What's My Communication Style?. According to Anne Martinez, Manager of Communications, "The session was a winner and helped to make our training day a success!!"
 

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