Adjust your communication styles
Posted on June 04, 2024 by Martin Hahn, One of Thousands of Career Coaches on Noomii.
This article discusses the different communication styles of male and female business persons.
I find these communication styles, while stereotypical, are pretty consistent in the business world. Women tend to be wordier, can bounce around from idea to idea, and like longer discussions. Men like to get to the point using as few words as possible. Men like to keep communications and meetings brief and like to focus on one topic at a time, no multitasking for men.
Communication differences are not always based on gender. I have also found that creative types, regardless of gender, like interaction and engagement. they like having longer discussions, whether just simple small talk or about a project or strategy. They like to share ideas, thoughts, and possibilities. On the other hand, engineers and technical types, regardless of gender, are the opposite. They have fewer words and the better is their feeling. Just focus and talk about what is needed for a project. No extra words or thoughts required.
Recognizing and understanding a person’s communication style whether because of gender, area of expertise, or any other way is extremely beneficial when interacting with them. My communications, both verbal and written, are much more efficient and effective when I modify my style to that of my audience. If I’m sending an email, I’ll write it the way I would normally write it.
Then I think about my audience and edit it. If I know they prefer fewer words, I’ll look for ways to tighten my sentences. Did I include too much detail and can remove some of the words? If the recipient is direct in their style, did I get to the point quickly? Did I make the point clear? If they like interactions to be more personal, I sometimes have to add niceties and small talk verbiage, even if those don’t come naturally to me. I do this because I know my reader will interpret our communication as more of a conversation and less of a demand or command, and it will be better received.
It’s no different if I’m in a meeting, on the phone, in person or video conference. Before I meet or speak with the person, I think about what I know about their communication style. I keep this in the back of my mind, so when I open my mouth to speak, hopefully I’ll be speaking in a style they’ll both best hear and respond to, whether short and to the point or more verbose.
People won’t know you’re doing it, but if you tailor your communication style to theirs, you’ll probably find that there are a lot of professional benefits. Your audience will respond better to you, you’ll get more accomplished, you’ll save time with less back and forth, you’ll be provided with the responses and decisions you need, and you’ll soon be known as a good communicator.
Do not forget context
Context is important for a board meeting and a company meeting, but it also is even important for one-on-one conversations. The person speaking should take a quick minute to reflect on where the listener(s) had left off when the matter last was discussed, and then he or she should take a few minutes to bring the listener up to date using the five W’s as a guide: Who, What, When, Where, and Why.
The benefits associated with providing context will be plenty, namely saving time for the benefit of all and making your meetings more efficient and productive, along with gaining the respect of your teammates for keeping the meetings on time and sharp.
