Effective communication is the very lifeblood of any organization. If communication is not clear and persuasive between managers and employees, and employees and customers, then other vital goals are forever out of reach. Say goodbye to your aspirations for successful leadership, teamwork, customer service, or even the ability to execute a coherent business strategy. If you want to bring about meaningful improvements in communication skills, the best way to begin is to build a better understanding of personal communication styles and their effects on other people. What’s My Communication Style? is a proven training assessment that identifies an individual’s dominant communication style – Direct, Spirited, Considerate, or Systematic – and the communication behaviors that distinguish it.

1. What’s My Communication Style?
How to Get Along with(Almost) Anyone
PEGGY F. GREENBERG
PRESIDENT, PEGGY GREENBERG TRAINING AND CONSULTING

2. Roadmap for
today’s session
Introductions
 What is communication?
 What is your communication “style”?
 The four styles: Strengths and trouble spots
 Interacting with individuals and team members with
different styles
 How to quickly gauge the style of a new acquaintance
 Questions and wrap up

3. First, a little
about me…
o Worked as Director of Training for various health care
organizations in Boston, Baltimore and Washington, DC
o Director of the Office of Education and Training at US
Senate
o Executive Coach and Consultant
o Conduct Training Seminars for various organizations
o Online Moderator for business, management and
communication topics

4. Now. . . A little about YOU!
Poll: In which of the following major
industries do you work?
Government
Manufacturing
High Tech/Telecomm/IT
Financial/Banking/Real Estate
Health Care

5. A little more about you!
Poll: What is your primary role in your
organization?
Team Member, Specialist or
Subject Expert
Supervisor
Project/Team/Unit Manager
Mid-management
Upper management or
executive team

6. What is Communication???

7. Communication Is…..
The process of
attempting to create
shared understanding
Verbal & nonverbal
Simultaneous assigning
of meaning

8. Key Communication Principles
 Communication occurs when a sent message is received.
 The message that is received may not be the same as the
one that was sent.
Sender and receiver each have a history and a personal
communication style and both of these can affect the
interpretation of any message.

9. Four types of communication:
 Verbal – words have different meanings to different
people based on age, experience and background
(semantics).
 Paraverbal – includes pace of speech, tone,
intensity, irony, sarcasm, etc.
 Body Language – stance, handshake, eye contact,
facial expressions, gesturing, touch, etc.
 Personal Space – intimate, personal, social and
public are some examples, as well as how you
decorate and organize your office.

10. A Guide for Effective Communication
It is unavoidable
Contains content & info about the
content
Produces conflict yet it is the only
method for resolving conflict
Circular & complex
Happens within an individual’s frame
of reference
Semantics matter!

11. Why bother?
Communication or miscommunication is cited as the #1 reason
why:
Relationships fail
Job performance is not what it needs to be
Sales are lost
Customer service in so many organizations fails to satisfy the
customers

12. Why bother?
“As soon as you move one step up from the
bottom, your effectiveness depends on you
your ability to reach others through the
spoken and written word.”
Peter Drucker
“Communication…the human connection…is the key to
personal and career success.”
Paul J. Meyer

13. Sometimes it takes…
COURAGE to COMMUNICATE

14. What is “communication style”?
 How people act when they can do things
their own way—the way that is most natural
to them.
Behavior so consistent that it is predictable.
Behavior that seems “typical,” part of their
personality, or you expect it most of the time.

15. Benefits of Understanding
Communication Style
 Improves your interaction with others
 Helps others interpret your behavior
 Helps you interpret others’ behavior
 Influences your success

16. What’s Your
Communication Style?

17. Dimensions of Style
ASSERTIVENESS
EXPRESSIVENESS

18. SYSTEMATIC CONSIDERATE
HRDQ Style Model

19. FOUR STYLES: Strengths
DIRECT
Takes charge
Thrives on competition/winning
Fast paced, goal
directed
Strong leadership
skills
Likes to take risks
Speaks forcefully
Decisive

20. Enthusiastic & friendly
Likes the spotlight
Good storyteller
Good at building
alliances
Uses motivational speech to
generate enthusiasm
SPIRITED
Persuasive
Prefers to be with other
people
FOUR STYLES: Strengths

21. CONSIDERATE
Values warm, personal
relationships
Good listener/counselor Works best on teams
Always aware of others’
feelings
Reliable & steady
Uses supportive language
Builds trust
FOUR STYLES: Strengths

22. SYSTEMATIC
Heavy emphasis on accuracy
and objectivity
Decides based on facts
Excellent problem solverOrganized & orderly
Prefers clear guidelines
Seeks information
Likes a well-organized
work space
Speaks/presents
efficiently and precisely
FOUR STYLES: Strengths

23. DIRECT
SYSTEMATIC CONSIDERATE
HIGH ASSERTIVENESS
LOW ASSERTIVENESS
L
O
W
E
X
P
R
E
S
S
I
V
E
N
E
S
S
H
I
G
H
E
X
P
R
E
S
S
I
V
E
N
E
S
S
HRDQ Style Model
SPIRITED
Decisive
Takes charge
Likes to compete/win
Speaks forcefully
Strong leadership
Goal-directed/fast-paced
Takes risks
Persuasive
Enthusiastic & friendly
Likes the spotlight
Motivates/generates
enthusiasm
Prefers to be with other
people
Good storyteller
Builds Alliances
Good listener/counselor
Values warm, personal
relationships
Uses supportive language
Works best on teams
Builds trust
Always aware of others’
feelings
Reliable & steady
Organized/orderly
Decides based on facts
Seeks information
Prefers clear guidelines
Problem solver
Emphasizes accuracy/objectivity
Speaks/presents
efficiently and precisely

24. Poll: What do you think your
predominant style is?
Direct
Spirited
Systematic
Considerate

25. STYLE TROUBLE SPOTS
 Each style has its “flip side” of traits.
 These are your “blind spot” traits that can occur if your
“strengths” are carried to their extremes.
 It is good to be aware of your blind spots to help balance your
strengths.
 As you review these, ask yourself: “What can I do to limit these
behaviors?”

26. DIRECT
SYSTEMATIC CONSIDERATE
HIGH ASSERTIVENESS
LOW ASSERTIVENESS
L
O
W
E
X
P
R
E
S
S
I
V
E
N
E
S
S
H
I
G
H
E
X
P
R
E
S
S
I
V
E
N
E
S
S
Style “Trouble Spots”
SPIRITED
Is a poor listener
Likes to compete
Is impatient with others
Discounts feelings
Does not heed advice
Overlooks details
Likes to argue
Tends to be a workaholic
Does not hear details
Responds poorly to criticism
Tends to exaggerate
Glosses over details
Generalizes
Tends to miss deadlines
Can be overdramatic
Does not manage time
efficiently
Avoids conflict
Gives in easily
Resists change
Allows own needs to linger
Prefers what is comfortable
Keeps opinions to self
Overemphasizes feelings
Tells others what they want to hear
Focuses too much on details
Puts accuracy ahead of
feelings
Fears personal disclosure
Tends to be impersonal
Can be terse
Delays decision making
Uses little variety in vocal tones
Does not take risks

27. What about the communication style of
other people in my office (or home)?
 The reality is: Your boss and work colleagues
(and yes, your family members) will often be
a different style than your own.
 The next question is: How do we get along
with people having different communication
styles?

28. Diametrically Opposed Styles
SYSTEMATIC CONSIDERATE

29. SYSTEMATIC CONSIDERATE
Diametrically Opposed Styles

30. Poll: Considering the positive and negatives of each style, think
about the style of your direct supervisor (or key team or family
member). What is the relationship of THEIR style to YOUR
style? Is it:
 The same style as your own?
 A different style (but not
diametrically opposite) yours?
 A style that is diametrically
opposite of yours?
SYSTEMATIC CONSIDERATE

31. Communication styles in teams…
There is no right or wrong style…we need all four types
The best teams are ones that have similar representation from
all four styles
We vastly improve our chances of successfully connecting and
communicating with another when we “style flex”

32. How Do the Four Styles GET TO “B”?
DIRECT>>>
SPIRITED>>>
SYSTEMATIC>>>
CONSIDERATE>>>

33. Style “Flexing”
 It helps to know how to “adapt” or “flex” your communication
style according to the person you are interacting with.
 Just like gradually improving your trouble spots, it does take
effort to flex to another style.
 Payoff: Can make the difference between a
successful/productive interaction and an
unsuccessful/unproductive one.
 Practice makes perfect!

34. Flexing to a “Direct” Style
DIRECT
● Focus on their goals and
objectives
● Keep your relationship
businesslike
● Argue facts, not personal
feelings
● Be well-organized in your
presentations
● Ask questions directly
● Speak at a relatively fast pace
(faster than you may be used to)

35. Flexing to a “Spirited” Style
•Focus on opinions and inspiring ideas
•Be supportive of their ideas
•Don’t hurry the discussion
•Engage in brainstorming
•Be entertaining and fast moving
•Allow them to share their ideas freely
SPIRITED

36. Flexing to a “Considerate” Style
 Focus on your relationship
 Be supportive of their feelings
 Make sure you understand their needs
 Be informal
 Maintain a relaxed pace
 Give them time to build trust in you
CONSIDERATE

37. Flexing to a “Systematic” Style
•Focus on facts, not opinions
•Be thorough and organized
•Provide data when possible
•Be precise in your presentations
•Avoid gimmicks
•Allow time for analysis
SYSTEMATIC

38. How can I quickly gauge someone’s
style who I’ve never met before?
Direct Spirited Considerate Systematic
Talking Gets to the
point
Tells good
stories
Doesn’t
offer
opinions
Precise
Listening Poor listener Doesn’t
hear details
Sympathetic
listener
Seeks facts
Handshake Firm Enthusiastic Gentle Brief
Personal
Space
Maintains
distance
Likes to be
close
Tactile Avoids
touching
Movement Bold Quick Slow Controlled
Workspace Suggests
power
Cluttered Displays
photos
Organized

39. Remember…
 Your dominant style is the one that feels the most natural to
you when you are enjoying your work/life.
 There is no right style.
 The best teams have representation of all styles.
 It helps to know your “trouble spots” and practice improving.
 You can flex to accommodate other people’s styles to have
more successful interchanges.
 We all get to point “B.” It is just a matter of “how.”

40. Thank you for joining
us today!
Feel free to contact me with any additional questions.
GOOD LUCK!!!
Peggy Greenberg Training & Consulting
Newburyport, MA
peggyfg128@gmail.com
978-255-1168 301-412-6054

41. Learning Outcomes
• Identify a preference for one of four
communication styles
• Uncover the characteristics of each style
• Discover how style affects
communication
• Learn how to "speed read" a person's
dominant communication style
• Understand how to "flex" style for
effective communication with others
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What's My Communication Style?