How to Understand Your Communication Style

Good communication skills are highly sought-after these days. Most companies look for candidates who have proper communication skills. Ideally, there are four types of communicators, depending on the person you are communicating with. No matter which style you adopt, it can be classified into these four types. This article will analyze all four types of communicators so that you can have a better understanding of your style.

Analytical

An analytical communicator is all about concrete facts and figures. This type of communicator hates ambiguity and considers emotional statements unimportant and vague. You must research and be prepared with all the necessary data if you wish to communicate with such a person. Only when you have provided data-based information can you proceed with your request.

The positive side of being such a person is that you can interpret the issues logically and factually. You do not let your emotions interfere with your problems. An analytical communicator can be easily guided as well. If they make a mistake, you must show them the numbers, and they will accept and improve.

The downside of being an analytical communicator is that people might perceive you as cold or emotionless. You might even come across as insensitive if you are communicating with those who have a personal communication style. This can make things quite uncomfortable, especially for your colleagues.

Intuitive

Intuitive communicators are always preoccupied with the larger picture. They avoid getting involved with the minor details and prefer to cut right to the chase. While discussing a project with an intuitive communicator, it is always better to provide a general overview rather than giving them the nitty-gritty details. Unlike functional communicators who prefer to hear things in the correct linear order, intuitive communicators tend to jump right to the end. Such people tend to jump to conclusions and can provide valuable insights regarding tasks.

Since such communicators do not like getting bogged down by details, their communication style is quick and to the point. These people also have a natural ability to perceive things on a larger scale, and therefore they can challenge the conventional way of doing things.

The negative side of being an intuitive communicator is that you may lack patience for situations where a lot of attention should be given to detail. You are also likely to miss out on crucial information gathered from the details you are too bored to discuss.

Functional

Functional communicators are the exact opposite of their intuitive counterparts. If an intuitive communicator is focused on the destination, a functional communicator is concerned about the journey. They like to go through each step of the process until they arrive at an appropriate conclusion. They are not only detail-oriented but also possess a better understanding of steps that can ensure success. You can also trust a functional communicator with timelines and run projects. If you are approaching a person like this, make sure to be well-prepared because there is a high probability that they would like to know every tiny detail.

The upside of being a functional communicator is that you will not miss any of the important steps since you have a detailed-oriented mind. Such people also understand what it would take to achieve the desired results. This is also probably why most people love and value them. 

However, being too particular about each step can make you lose sight of the outcome, and you may ultimately fail in achieving the desired results.

Personal

A personal communicator is the opposite of an analytical communicator. Such communicators are adept at using emotional language and understand the value of human connection.  Such people are diplomats who are always looking for peaceful methods to solve conflicts.

Such people can forge deep relationships due to their ability to connect with others on a personal level. Due to their diplomatic skills and emotional intelligence, they can keep the group intact, and, when the time comes, step effortlessly into the role of problem-solver.

On the other hand, this type of communication often makes them come across as too emotional.

While these are the four types of communicators, most people exhibit characteristics of more than one type. You will rarely find a person who has a single way of communication. People may have primary, secondary, and even tertiary communication styles. Since each style has its own set of advantages and disadvantages, it is better to have a team with a mixture of all these communication styles.