Know your Communication Style
When listing strengths and weaknesses, some people who are systematic or considerate, often list a weakness as not speaking up enough or not pushing their ideas strongly, in part because feedback from their manager is that they aren’t assertive enough.
But a lot of the times, it is not that they have a weakness but rather that their communication style is more reserved and in a Type A environment, they may be made to see it as a weakness.
I encourage those folks to self-reflect on different communication styles. It can be a weakness in certain situations and a strength in other situations.
Ask yourself, is it your weakness or the weakness of the business environment? It is ok to talk about the challenge of being systematic in a culture or role where the direct style dominates.
The four communication styles are as follows:
Direct - Think Type A person who speaks up quickly and drives the room to decisions quickly.
Spirited - That spontaneous sales person who hugs everyone
Systematic - Has the brilliant solution 3 days after the problem is presented
Considerate - Takes care of everyone before themselves.
Most of us are some combination of these traits but as you read below, you can see how the stronger, more outgoing traits dominate workplace definitions of success.
Direct
Assertive but not necessarily expressive
Strengths:
Takes charge
Gets results
Likes competition
Weaknesses:
May be poor listener
May become impatient with others
Spirited
Assertive and expressive
Strengths:
Generates excitement
Is spontaneous
Is persuasive
Weaknesses:
May exaggerate
May become overdramatic
Systematic
Not assertive and not expressive
Strengths:
Makes decisions based on facts
Is analytical
Stays clam an rational
Weaknesses:
May become bogged down with details
May be impersonal
Considerate
Expressive but not assertive
Strengths:
Listens actively
Considers others’ feelings
Is patient
Weaknesses:
May avoid conflict
May give in easily
Further reading: Just google it.
