Skip to main content

Communication Styles: Is Yours Trending?

      Being a competent communicator is essential in every aspect of life.  Whether it's a manager learning to direct his team, a wife trying to convince her husband, a salesperson trying to persuade a client or a pastor trying to inspire a congregation, knowing how to bring a meaningful message to an audience (collective or individual) is important.  Yet, most of us tend not to treat it as such.  We communicate as we do without much concern for how what we say, write or show comes across to others.  As a result, we miss the mark.  The way we miss the mark is in where the message fails.  Did it offend?  Was it unclear?  Was it inaccurate?  Was it unconvincing?  Was it misunderstood?  
     Since we communicate in a variety of ways, it is important to the communicator to help the listener hear his message clearly and without failure.  Our style dictates the success of that message hitting its target.  If one style is to be direct, then we should get to the point with precision and without offense.  If another style is to be warm and encouraging, then we should be able to make our point and be taken seriously while not being unrealistic in our optimism.  If we're looking for logic and proof as we question others, we must be aware that  not everybody thinks critically and aren't as detailed. 
     Most people will respect that the way you communicate is "just your way" good or bad.  But sometimes your "way" can get in the way of people hearing you without style hindrances.  Being blunt while being direct may cause others to feel like you are trying to control or denigrate them.  Being passive and risk-averse may lead people to believe you're weak or wishy-washy.  Your style is important.  How you show it off determines if others will follow it.  When you think of "style" and what's fashionable, it stands to reason that even when it comes to communications you have to ask, "Is my style trending?"  Would others want to emulate it or see the quality in it? 
     We are going to look at a variety of leadership styles at the new Women's Forum on Leadership on January 14th at the Capital City Club in Columbia, SC.  Women who attend will have the opportunity to receive a free assessment of their style and learn how to make that style work for them in business and at home.  They'll learn how to maximize the strengths that will make them competent communicators and earn them the respect and influence that can be theirs if they are skilled in the art of conversation.  You can be a part of it too.  Call (803) 256-2000 to register today.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

How to Talk About Race: A Panel Discussion

When Your "Jokes" Get You in Trouble

         Everybody loves a good laugh. We feel better when we hear something funny and our anxiety or pain is eased because humor has come as a balm in a tense day. Laughter is beneficial to our emotional and physical health. Well-placed humor works easily in a lot of ways when we are telling stories, but can also come at a huge cost. If we joke about a topic that is sensitive to many, and we do it in a public forum where our intent can be misconstrued by the audience, then we can create a firestorm of frustration for ourselves and them.      A recent example of a humor faux pas involves rapper T.I. and his comments regarding how he checks for his daughter's virginity.  He claimed in a podcast that when his 18-year-old daughter goes to the gynecologist, he tells the doctor to check her hymen to make sure it's still intact--an indication that she is still a virgin. Though this is not an accurate test of virginity, T.I. says he told the doctor: "...just check the hymen

What Humility Sounds Like in Leadership

     To be in a position of leadership is usually associated with being in a position of power.  And though the power is real and necessary, it must be balanced with the willingness to respond humbly in situations that warrant it.  It's time we eliminate the misunderstanding that humility is weakness.  In fact, to take a position of humility takes a lot of restraint and sacrifice.  This is difficult for many to do.  Therefore, the weakness comes in yielding to arrogance and dominance because it is easy to do.  The strength is found in backing away from selfish desires and allowing someone else to be successful.      Not sure what humility looks like in leadership?  Consider these examples: The boss who gives credit to his employee for an idea that allowed the entire department to shine. The manager who was clearly wrong when making a decision on a project and admits that mistake when the project fails. The supervisor who yields her opinion to someone else on the team so tha