The Contingency Communicator
Not everyone communicates the same way, and there is no "right" way to communicate. Everyone responds differently to different styles of communication, and therefore, it's natural that individuals develop a preference for a specific style during conversations at work and at home.

Mark Murphy, founder of Leadership IQ, has completed a lot of research to help you learn four different styles of communication: Intuitive, Functional, Analytical and Personal. This Thrive is focused on helping you learn about your style and others' so you can be the best communicator depending on who you're talking to.
What about MY style?
Luckily for all of us, Murphy has developed a free assessment you can take to learn what your preferred communication style is, as well as pros and cons to your style. You can find and take the test here:
The Four Styles
The Analytical Communicator

"As an Analytical communicator, you like hard data , real numbers, and you tend to be suspicious of people who aren’t in command of the facts and data."

The Intuitive Communicator

"As an Intuitive communicator, you like the big picture , you avoid getting bogged down in details, and you cut right to the chase. You don’t need to hear things in perfect linear order but prefer instead a broad overview that lets you easily skip right to the end point."

The Functional Communicator

"As a Functional communicator, you like process, detail, timelines and well-thought-out plans . You like to communicate things in a step-by-step fashion so nothing gets missed."

The Personal Communicator

"As a Personal communicator, you value emotional language and connection , and use that as your mode of discovering what others are really thinking. You find value in assessing not just how people think, but how they feel. You tend to be a good listener and diplomat, you can smooth over conflicts, and you’re typically concerned with the health of your numerous relationships."
Apply the Five!
We challenge you to take Murphy's communication style assessment to learn which style you would fall under (if you can't already guess). Then, pick one person that you work with regularly, figure out what communication style they most likely prefer, and learn how you can communicate better with them.

This exercise will work even better if the person you choose is someone who you have trouble communicating with. Perhaps you can suggest they take the assessment, too, so you can both learn how to better facilitate work and discussions and be a more productive team!
Until Next Time...
The Evans Thrive Team
(Nicole, Kaitlin, Laura, Bob, and Sean)
    (This image was adapted from a commonly shared internet image.)  
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