Have you ever observed your team members and took notice of what is unique about each one of them? How do they best express themselves? Maybe Paul is the quiet one on the team. On the other hand, Sarah seems to be the loudest one during meetings. Roger appears to be restless.
Being familiar with the communication styles of your team members can help you lead better. Here are the three communication styles based on the VAK Learning Styles model.
Visual
“I see what you mean.”
The visual ones on your team are those who are most likely to prefer reading, sending text messages, or emails. They are usually not a fan of phone calls.
When it comes to presentations, notice if they like to use different visual elements such as photographs, videos, and graphics. They express themselves best with visual materials. They also like to use PowerPoint, maps, and a whiteboard.
They enjoy illustrations, colors, and vivid images. Anything that can provide visual information and appeal. They also tend to dress well or like to be stylish. Sometimes, they are the ones who tend to speak fast. Being visual, they think in pictures.
To communicate with them in the workplace, avoid giving them long instructions verbally. Don’t talk to them in a rushed manner either because they may not easily absorb the information. They will best understand with visuals and text. Encourage face-to-face interactions too, because they prefer to see you.
Auditory
“I hear you.”
People who are auditory love to hear information. Aside from communicating this way, this is also their learning style. They can remember every detail of a conversation, whether you are in a meeting or not.
Auditory people enjoy communicating verbally. These are your team members who are very active in group chats. They love exchanging ideas through discussions, and can easily express themselves verbally.
People on your team who are auditory are those who tend to enjoy listening to podcasts and have great taste in music. They probably have a hidden talent in singing too! They are usually soft-spoken but are great at giving speeches. They absolutely love stories.
To communicate with your auditory colleague, just speak to them. Watch your words, and give them undivided attention during the conversation. Avoid distractions. They won’t be able to concentrate on your message in a noisy environment.
Kinesthetic
“I feel like…”
The kinesthetic members of your team express through their bodies or movement. This means that they prefer to engage in activities. They love to move.
Have you ever noticed who among your team keeps shifting in their seats during long meetings? It is highly likely that they are kinesthetic communicators. It does not mean that they do not want to listen, it is just that they participate better through movement.
They enjoy quick stand-up meetings and role-playing. Aside from being literally hands-on during projects, kinesthetic people enjoy body contact, such as handshakes. They don’t mean anything negative by it, they just express themselves that way.
Notice that when they are cheerful, they will give you a high five. That is how they connect.
They also appear to be athletic. Put on some music at the office party, they are the ones who have the moves.
To communicate with your kinesthetic co-worker, allow them to take action or be hands-on. They easily understand information through experience.
Demonstrate tasks or project needs with materials and models. Most of all, ask them how they are feeling.
Conclusion
As a leader, clear communication is important. As the sender of a message, it is your responsibility to deliver it clearly. Also, know your team members well and identify their talents. This is essential for the team’s success.
Knowing the communication style of your team members will definitely help improve the quality of your meetings, planning, and conversations. This will also foster better working relationships.
