Who Are You?How YOU Communicate in the WorkplaceAs adapted from Robyn Baker Showalter, Penn Line Service, Inc.

Your BEST Communication Style› Bold (Yellow)

› Expressive (Red)

› Sympathetic (Green)

› Technical (Blue)

The Four Communication Styles

The Bold Communicator

› Style is usually direct

› Conversation is short and to the point

› Likes the bottom line

› Is a good problem solver

› Good at visualizing the big picture

Style One - Bold

Jesus: I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6

The Expressive Communicator

› Style reflects a need to be involved with people

› Likes to talk and is good at it

› Can be a good presenter

› May speak in emotional terms

› Communicates a positive message

Style Two - Expressive

Jesus: These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. John 15:11

The Sympathetic Communicator

› Style is calm and quiet

› Likes to listen more than talk

› Is sincere and people-oriented

› Displays a low-key approach

› Team player

Style Three - Sympathetic

Jesus: When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you. Matthew 9:2

The Technical Communicator

› Style is orderly, detailed and logical

› Likes to follow procedures

› Works well with numbers and systems

› May tend to be a perfectionist

› Needs to see the big picture in small steps

Style Four - Technical

Jesus: Jesus was a Carpenter. Mark 6:3

› Why is your style the best?

› What about your style might irritate others?

› What about your style is vital to our faith?

Group Activity

The Four Communication Styles

Style-to-Style Communication

To summarize:

› Communicate your message to other people in a way that they will “hear” it.

› Adapt your style based on interpersonal awareness.

› Always consider the receiver before you speak.

The Four Communication Styles

Effective Communication Techniques

Part Two

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Where Are We?

When you talk to your professor, colleague or friend for 10 minutes, they only really hear 2.5 minutes of the conversation.

The Listening Process

“I know you believe you understand what you think I said, but what you heard is not what I meant.”

Effective Communication

Common Barriers to Understanding

› Physical noise/distractions

› Mental noise/distractions

› Bias about the speaker or subject

The Six Communication Commandments› Organize before you speak.

› Be specific.

› Be direct.

› Repeat and reinforce.

› Ask for feedback.

› Listen actively.

Effective Communication

1. Organize before you speak.› Begin with the end in mind.

› Decide what you want to accomplish with the conversation.

› Say what’s most important first.

The Six Commandments

2. Be specific.› Quantify and qualify. (Who, what, when where,

why and how)

› Give an example when appropriate.

The Six Commandments

Go 270

Go to 70

Be Specific

›Go Route 270 (North or South)

›Go to Route 70 (East or West)

›Take 270

›Travel on 70

Be Specific

3. Be direct.› Say what you mean.

› Don’t “sugarcoat” or use vague language to avoid conflict.

› Make sure conflict ends in a resolution.

The Six Commandments

4. Repeat and reinforce.› Rephrase the same statement a few different

ways.

› Recap/review at the end of the conversation.

› Use a visual when possible.

The Six Commandments

5. Ask for feedback.› Pause often, and give the listener a chance to

speak.

› Invite participation

Examples

Does this interest you? Am I making sense? What do you think? How do you think we could make this better?

The Six Commandments

6. Listen actively› Tune out mental noise. Silence “self talk.”

› Listen to understand, not respond.

› Ask questions to clarify what you think you heard.

The Six Commandments

Pay attention to non-verbal cues:› Tone of voice

› Eye contact

› Facial expression

› Posture

› Proximity

› Gestures

Active Listening

Review

› Know your style, and adapt it to your audience.

› Plan ahead. Know what results you want.

› Be detailed and direct.

› Two-way communication: invite the listener’s participation.

› Practice active listening techniques.

› Find the time to communicate.

Questions?