Communicating During Our New Normal-What's Your Natural Communication Style?

Did you know that a majority of homebound workers are keen, even eager to get back to their workplace according to a recent survey conducted by Glassdoor?

The two reasons cited were being able to be social with co-workers (52 percent) and the option to collaborate in person (46 percent).

As managers it’s even more critical that you have a firm handle on your communication style and the effect your words have on your co-workers and staff.

In the book by Sharon Ellison, “Taking the War Out of Our Words”, she estimates that we use 95% of our communications energy being defensive. As soon as we feel any threat, either not getting what we want or being put down in some way, we are ready to protect ourselves by being defensive.

As part of our online Brilliant Leader Program we learn that most of us are predisposed to unique reactions when we feel our comments are not received as we intended. Based on the Color Code Personality Theory, a Blue personality type might feel disrespected when the person they are speaking with cuts them off in mid-explanation or doesn’t give them time to formulate a response.  A Yellow personality will generally withdraw when confronted by the directness or insensitivity of a Red’s offhand remarks.

Regardless of your natural communication style, whether it’s direct like a Red or sensitive like a Blue or unemotional like a White or even overly enthusiastic like a Yellow, everyone could benefit from learning how to respond non-defensively and to avoid provoking defensiveness in others!

Take this True-False Quiz to see how defensive your communication tends to be. 

1. When a boss, coworker or colleague points out a flaw in my work, I am quick to show him or her how it wasn’t my fault.
2. If I am at fault for something, I look for some factor outside of myself over which I had no control.
3. When people are upset with me, I let them know with explanations and excuses why they are wrong.
4. I’m always looking for the hidden critical message beneath another’s words.
5. If I don’t defend myself, I’ll get run over.
6. I can rarely admit that I am wrong.
7. If I think someone will have something critical to say, I avoid talking to that person.
 
If you responded true more often than false to the above questions, maybe it’s time to re-evaluate yourself and to accept more responsibility for making adjustments to your communication style.

We hope you’ll join us next week when we dive a little deeper into what you can do to up your communication game and learn how to build your very own “corporate vocabulary” that will easily strengthen and support your team.

Until then, please stay safe, be kind, and most importantly, be patient.

If you’d like to take your FREE Color Code Personality Assessment and learn more about Color Code and the Brilliant Leader Program visit us at http://www.pssworks.com.

Author’s content used under license, © 2008 Claire Communications