Communication is critically important in the workplace. How we communicate with colleagues and leadership can significantly impact relationships, productivity, and success. Understanding different communication styles and adapting accordingly allows ideas and information to flow more freely.
This article will explore the four primary communication styles: assertive, passive, aggressive, and passive-aggressive. Understanding how these styles play out in workplace settings and how we can adjust our approach to enable constructive dialogue is vital. By bringing awareness to our dominant communication tendencies and the flexibility to connect with diverse styles used by others, teams and individuals can thrive.
Critical Components of Communication Style
Communication style reflects innate preferences, cultural background, and learned behaviors that shape how we speak and listen. It affects how ideas are expressed, received, processed, and ultimately, if collaborative goals are achieved. Style encompasses non-verbal cues such as body language and tone of voice in addition to the words chosen.
In any workplace, diverse styles should be anticipated and even encouraged. Understanding and adapting between these styles is a valuable skill set that leads to better-functioning teams. Rather than label communication approaches as right or wrong, the aim is to uncover potential limitations or obstacles to find common ground.
1. Assertive Communication
Assertive communication promotes a free-flowing exchange of ideas and perspectives without infringement on the rights of others. Assertive communicators state needs, set boundaries, and articulate viewpoints while remaining open and approachable. This clarity, while inviting others’ input, is why this style greatly facilitates progress and compromised solutions.
For example, in a team meeting, an assertive communicator will directly share their standpoint while creating space for questions. If disagreements arise, they can detachedly defend reasoning without attacking those in opposition. The assertive communicator is very solution-focused, aiming to resolve conflicts rather than fuel emotions.
2. Passive Communication
In contrast to assertive communication, passive communication involves avoiding expressing needs or sharing viewpoints altogether. Passive communicators fear the consequences of stating opinions, asking for what they require, or conveying emotions. So, these are often suppressed, building frustration and resentment over the long term.
For instance, when presented with an unrealistic timeline, the passive communicator will not speak up despite recognizing the challenges. They may intend to avoid rocking the boat or being perceived as disagreeable. However, underlying dissatisfaction can emerge later when pent-up anxiety boils over in emotional outbursts. These could be avoided by calmly addressing issues proactively.
3. Aggressive Communication
While assertiveness involves diplomatically standing ground when appropriate, aggressive communication violates the rights of others and disregards impact. There is little self-control or restraint against dominating conversations, interrupting others, shutting down feedback, and insisting on one’s agenda or solution.
Take, for example, an aggressive communicator in a brainstorming session. They may outright reject ideas that do not align with preconceived notions. Little patience is granted even when others have not fully explained the rationale. This leaves team members feeling bulldozed, stifling creative contributions that require vulnerability to blossom fully. The aftermath is often resentment and a lack of buy-in towards implementation.
4. Passive-Aggressive Communication
Unlike direct aggression, which is easily observed, passive-aggressive communication derives its name from subtle, indirect, or underhanded hostility. Sarcasm, eye-rolling, and deliberately resisting reasonable demands are all examples. There is concealed antagonism rather than overt domineering.
Imagine a colleague frequently commenting, “No problem, I’ll stay late to fix this…again.” On the surface, they are verbally agreeing to put in extra effort. However, the subtle aggression suggests resentment at repeatedly compensating for others. Instead of transparently addressing uneven workloads, frustration permeates sideways remarks. This slowly deteriorates the trust and willingness of teammates to collaborate.
Recognizing Your Dominant Style
To expand communication repertoire, increased self-awareness of habitual tendencies is essential. Note situations that spark discomfort or overreaction, as these often reveal underlying fears/needs not being constructively conveyed. Observe whether passive or aggressive patterns emerge depending on variables like authority level.
Journaling can unveil blind spots around default styles. As can soliciting feedback from trusted colleagues on communication strengths and limitations. Over time, patterns surface around triggers that pull one into less effective ruts. As these grow more conscious, the capacity to pause and reset expands.
Strategies to Flex Communication Muscles
With enhanced awareness, deliberately practicing alternative styles in lower-risk settings stabilizes skills. For those prone to passive communication, voice needs and make requests to friends first. For aggressive types, make a conscious effort to let others finish sentences when talking with family.
When Arturo, a highly aggressive communicator, began his new manager role, he committed to letting direct reports finish initial project proposals before asking clarifying questions. This granted him insights that shortened implementation time given early team buy-in. With time, Arturo automatically applied this across contexts.
For the most significant learning, reflect after exchanges and get input from participants on how to improve. Be compassionate about progress over perfection during this communication style skill building.
Bridging Communication Gaps
In mixed-style groups, identify points of disconnect and why variant approaches may emerge. Are passive employees feeling overwhelmed by workloads or facing unclear expectations? Are requests from aggressive managers overly blunt and inviting pushback?
Once root issues surface, offer training and resources to address underlying needs fueling counterproductive habits. Open channels for clarifying misunderstandings early and often. For overly dominant styles, share how alternative views can strengthen solutions.
Ultimately, every communicator plays a role in smoothing interactions. We alone decide whether to be reactive or remain measured when confronted with those employing different styles. Lead with patience and aim to comprehend why others communicate as they do before judging approaches as insufficient. Curiosity and listening are universal salves when tensions arise.
Case Study: Adapting Communication
Nina, Vice President of Sales at an e-commerce firm, excelled at assertively driving business results, but her direct style often intimidated colleagues and subordinates. After low employee engagement scores, Nina pursued executive coaching, targeting improved rapport with staff through flexibility in her communication approach.
Recognizing that most of her team preferred polite, indirect requests rather than intense demands, she consciously employed less authoritative phrasing and active listening tactics. When customers gave critical feedback, she sought to understand their reasoning instead of reacting defensively. Over several months, these changes created a more open, trusting dynamic between Nina and her team.
Performance still mattered, but Nina was motivated through relationship and reciprocity versus pressure tactics. Nina transformed her leadership impact by adapting to team needs and showing value for diverse viewpoints. Her following employee survey reflected record high engagement levels, better executive collaboration, and improved customer satisfaction from her division.
Key Takeaways
- Tailor communication style to suit audience preferences, organizational culture, and situations requiring distinct approaches for optimal outcomes.
- Seek 360 feedback from colleagues at all levels to unveil blind spots related to default communication style and improve self-awareness around growth areas.
- When first attempting new styles, practice in low-stakes interactions to develop skills before applying to riskier exchanges. Be patient with yourself.
Conclusion
Communication style awareness empowers us to expand our repertoire and better collaborate with all personality types. Rather than permanently change innate tendencies, the goal is to stretch beyond comfort zones and become more adaptable depending on circumstances.
With an assertive communicator’s clarity, the passive communicator’s care in causing no harm, the aggressive communicator’s ability to boldly express self, and the passive-aggressive communicator’s tact, we open pathways to elevating individual and collective performance.
