Communication Styles in the Workplace

Knowing the different communication styles in the workplace can be really helpful for you to convey your ideas or views effectively. This article focuses on the workplace communication styles — and the skills — that help you communicate better at work.

All professionals in the corporate world know the importance of communication in business. Effective interpersonal communication plays a significant role in the smooth running of any company; people who lack good communication skills face tougher challenges, and where information is not imparted clearly, misunderstandings can hurt deliverables and reduce productivity. To survive in the corporate world, you need an understanding of both the different communication styles in the workplace and the skills that make communication effective.

Determinants of Communication Styles

Corporate researchers have proposed several classes of communicator, most based on two aspects: an individual's level of receptiveness and level of straightforwardness. You can gauge receptiveness by how much a person speaks about themselves — highly receptive people share information freely, are comfortable with emotions, talk expressively and mix easily with new people, while reserved people prefer not to reveal their feelings and thoughts. Straightforwardness shows in how a person talks and how willing they are to take chances — direct people take the initiative and charge of situations, whereas indirect people avoid risks and value security and careful planning. These two aspects give four broad types of communicator.

The Four Types of Communicators

Open Communicators — receptive people who express their emotions freely and prefer informal conversation before business, often displaying personal souvenirs or photos. With them it is best to ask a few informal questions first (about their career path or first job, for example) before getting down to business, rather than pushing for rapid answers.

Reserved Communicators — those who do not like to reveal their personal life. Asking them personal questions makes them uneasy; they are usually busy working and do not join in workplace socializing.

Indirect Communicators — slow and deliberate in speech, disliking loud, fast or aggressive talk and concentrating on facts and figures. With them, have proof ready to back up your suggestions and views.

Direct Communicators — louder and quicker than indirect communicators, willing to take risks, aggressively self-assured and often "type A" personalities. With them, get to the point straight away, be confident, and give solid examples of your achievements.

To be an effective communicator, adjust your approach according to the type of person you are talking to.

Workplace Communication Skills

Whatever the style, certain skills define good workplace communication, which is typically formal and to the point:

• Courteousness — always be courteous to everyone, senior or junior; do not speak disparagingly to juniors while flattering seniors.
• Precision — workplace communication is born of necessity (delegating tasks and reporting results), so keep it short and complete it quickly.
• Language — avoid slang; business communication should be crisp and clear so everyone understands, and slang looks unprofessional and invites misunderstanding.
• Low speaking volume — speaking loudly disturbs others, so keep your volume moderate.
• Clarity — speak slowly and clearly, especially if you have a strong accent, and confirm the other person has understood.
• Listening — effective communication is two-way; be a good listener, not just a good talker.
• Posture and body language — actions speak louder than words, so wish colleagues good morning, keep a courteous smile, dress well and sit up straight when someone is talking to you.

Being formal and cordial matters because it makes you a positive influence others want on their team, helps you get your point across so work is done properly, and makes you a valued team player. Master both the styles and the skills, and you will know how to communicate effectively at work — and why.