What’s Your Communication Style? By Harry H. Holdorf All students should undergo a self-assessment of how they communicate, verbally and non-verbally. Indicate which style (or styles) best describes you in a work environment (You may have more than one style). Communication styles: DIRECT SPIRITED CONSIDERATE SYSTEMATIC DIRECT SPIRITED CONSIDERATE SYSTEMATIC VERBAL Decisive Generalities Listens Precise language Direct speech Persuasive Close, personal Avoids emotions language Doesn’t stop to Expresses opinions Focuses on say hello readily Supportive specific details language PARAVERBAL Speaks quickly Loud tones Speaks slowly Even delivery Loud tones Animated Soft tones Brief speech Formal speech Lots of voice Patient speech Little vocal variety reflection BODY LANGUAGE Direct eye contact Quick actions Slow movement Poker face Bold visual Lots of body Tactile Avoids touching Appearance movement Gentile handshake Controlled Firm handshake Enthusiastic movement handshake PERSONAL SPACE Keeps physical Cluttered Family pictures in A strong sense of distance workspace workspace personal space Work space Personal slogans Likes side-by-side Charts, graphs in suggests power in office seating office Displays planning Likes close Carries Prefers an calendars in work physical space sentimental items organized desktop space
What’s Your Communication Style? By Harry H. Holdorf All students should undergo a self-assessment of how they communicate, verbally and non-verbally. Indicate which style (or styles) best describes you in a work environment (You may have more than one style). Communication styles: DIRECT SPIRITED CONSIDERATE SYSTEMATIC DIRECT SPIRITED CONSIDERATE SYSTEMATIC VERBAL Decisive Direct speech Doesn’t stop to say hello Generalities Persuasive Expresses opinions readily Listens Close, personal language Supportive language Precise language Avoids emotions Focuses on specific details PARAVERBAL Speaks quickly Loud tones Formal speech Loud tones Animated Lots of voice reflection Speaks slowly Soft tones Patient speech Even delivery Brief speech Little vocal variety BODY LANGUAGE Direct eye contact Bold visual Appearance Firm handshake Quick actions Lots of body movement Enthusiastic handshake Slow movement Tactile Gentile handshake Poker face Avoids touching Controlled movement PERSONAL SPACE Keeps physical distance Work space suggests power Displays planning calendars in work space Cluttered workspace Personal slogans in office Likes close physical space Family pictures in workspace Likes side-by-side seating Carries sentimental items A strong sense of personal space Charts, graphs in office Prefers an organized desktop