How Can Leaders Adapt to Different Communication Styles? Speak Their Language.

The million-dollar question is: What does better communication actually mean?

When people say they want better communication, they’re not asking for more emails, meetings, frequent updates, or text messages filling their inboxes. What they’re asking for is a communication style that resonates with them. For leaders, that means stepping outside their preferred style and tuning in to how others best receive information. 

The High Stakes of Failing to Adapt Your Communication Style to the Recipient

Adapting to the communication styles of others takes effort and feels awkward, especially if it counters how we naturally communicate. It’s more comfortable to expect others to adapt to us. So why bother?

The answer is simple: when our messages aren’t tailored to how people want to receive them, they aren’t heard. That’s to say that if there’s any sort of disconnect in communication styles, misunderstandings, frustration, disengagement, errors, wasted time, and lost revenue are often the result. According to studies by Grammarly and The Harris Poll, ineffective communication in various forms costs U.S. organizations up to $1.2 trillion a year1. Leaders estimate that teams lose nearly a full workday each week (7.47 hours) to poor communication, which adds up to roughly $12,506 per employee annually. That’s a lot of money.

Since communication is woven into nearly every interaction within an organization, problems and concerns tend to grow exponentially when people aren’t communicating in a way others can truly hear and understand. The same holds even in our personal lives and relationships.

A good first step is getting to know the different personality traits and communication styles on your team, then making an effort to adjust your approach so it resonates with each person. When leaders and team members change their approach to meet each other’s needs, it builds trust, fosters engagement, reduces conflict, and creates a positive workplace culture that motivates them to work together for common goals. 

Understanding Communication Styles

I find Everything DISC® very useful when learning how to change a communication approach and understanding how people work together. If you’re unfamiliar with DiSC, it is a personality assessment focused on workplace interactions that categorizes individuals into one of four DISC personality types. For instance, some people may lean toward being Dominant, while others may be more Conscientious, Steady, or Influential. Identifying your communication style and recognizing the style of others can significantly improve how you communicate with your team and how your team communicates with each other.

Even if you’re not using an assessment such as DiSC, paying attention to how people interact with you and one another in terms of body language, behavioral traits, and the words they use can give you insights into their broader personal style.

Are they speaking quickly? Do they prefer summaries or detailed explanations? Are they direct and to the point, or do they like time and space to reflect before sharing their thoughts? Do they ask for a big picture overview or focus on specific data? You can also ask them how they like to learn and communicate in a simple conversation.

Once you recognize how someone prefers to communicate, the next step is adapting your approach. For example:

• For someone who’s results-oriented (D-style), be concise, action-focused, and clear about goals and outcomes.
• For the big-picture thinkers iI-style), focus on the overarching vision and enthusiastically convey your message.
• For those who value empathy and team harmony (S-style), it’s important to communicate how your message or decisions will affect the team.
• Provide thorough, structured explanations and logical reasoning for someone who’s more analytical (C-style).

Does The Same Principle Apply to a Group Setting?

When addressing a group, it’s a good idea to incorporate elements from each of the four communication styles. While it may sometimes feel repetitive, it’s important to remember that people typically only hear the message that speaks directly to them. Your goal is to communicate in a way that resonates with everyone, ensuring no one is left out of the conversation. Keep in mind, there’s no right or best communication style among the four. What matters most is recognizing the other person’s preferred style and adjusting your approach to meet them there. As leadership expert Stephen Covey put it, “Seek first to understand, then to be understood.” Only when we communicate in ways others can truly hear do we get real buy-in and results.

Ask for Feedback

Improving communication is rarely a one-and-done effort. One of the best ways to refine your approach is by asking your team for feedback. Questions like “How is my communication approach working for you?” or “Are you getting what you need from a communication perspective?” can help leaders understand the impact of their communication style on others and identify areas that require improvement.

Make Your Team More Receptive to What You Have to Say

Are things getting lost in translation when communicating with your team? Sometimes it’s not what’s said but how it’s said that makes all the difference. Everything DiSC® on Catalyst can help you and your team communicate more effectively by creating a team culture where different communication styles are recognized, respected, and openly discussed. Reach out to explore how.

 

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1. https://www.grammarly.com/business/Grammarly_The_State_Of_Business_Communication.pdf