PERSONAL COMMUNICATION STYLES INVENTORY Directing Style Personal Style Summary Strengths *Fast paced, quick thinker *Focused on action to achieve results *Does what is necessary to succeed *Fast decision maker *Takes responsibility *Natural leader *Superior negotiator *High level of integrity *Visionary - sees the big picture *Highly creative *Up-front about their opinions May need to develop *Patience for others *Acceptance of the pace of others *Ability to delegate *Listening skills *Being non-judgmental *Working through all possibilities toward a solution *Allowing others to lead when appropriate Director as Communicator: How you can be more effective as a communicator Creative Lead others to learn to develop options. Resist the inclination to provide all options for them. Provide options they do not see. Be ready to accept that others are responsible for choosing the option that is best for them. Pace Respect that others may not work at your pace. Practice patience. Control Learn how to motivate without having to control. Turn controlling into supporting. Endorsement Appreciate that others need acknowledgment as much as you. Make it a sincere art form. Goal Directed Your strength at working toward goals will be useful when working with others. However, you should accept that others might be more concerned with process than final outcome. Try not to let your frustrations show. Life Balance Work toward achieving balance in your life so that you can lead others by example. Relationships Be willing to pay attention to the human side of people to develop trusting relationships. When leading others, remember that they must find motivation within themselves - you can only lead them to this power. Integrity You can lead without dominating others. Encourage differences of opinion. 1 www.coachinc.com & www.coachingwell.com Directing Style
Communicating with the Director: How you want to be communicated with Creative Directors are often visionary about their future. They enjoy brainstorming to unleash their creativity. Pace Fast-paced Directors know what they want and are decisive. When communicating with Directors, get to the point quickly. Focus on results instead of building a persuasive case. They may need help making thoughtful decisions. Control Directors tend to like to be right. However, they often appreciate hearing additional information beyond their scope of knowledge. Endorsement Directors welcome acknowledgement and support. They may need reminding that others also desire acknowledgement and support. Goal Directed Directors may overlook practical considerations by focusing only on the goals. They need help slowing down and paying attention to the process instead of just the final outcome. Life Balance Focusing on goal and work-related areas of life can upset the balance in the Director s life. They should be encouraged to work toward achieving a balanced life. Relationships Relationships may be difficult for Directors. Their tendency to control can negatively impact friendships. They may need reminding to slow down and that people cannot be controlled. Integrity When interacting with Directors, add to their knowledge and show them how to build better relationships. Directors expect us to: Be professional Show discipline and efficiency Offer information about industry, company and product Provide documented evidence emphasizing results Explain concisely what the product or service can do Support their objectives, conclusions and past actions Hints for written or verbal communication: Initially state the action you are requesting from them Use precise language Respect their time and authority 2 www.coachinc.com & www.coachingwell.com Directing Style
Focus on results and be clear about next steps 3 www.coachinc.com & www.coachingwell.com Directing Style
Strengths of the Director Directors like to be in control. They are results-oriented and think of new possibilities. They eagerly take on new, often risky, challenges and set goals and work hard to achieve them. Staying in control is important to the Director. They are often selected as the leader, and make their own rules instead of following those of others. From their vantage point, Directors can see strategic advantages and devise ways to overcome the competition. They tend to work long, hard hours. Directors are perceived as having a lot of drive and make good leaders. They are assertive and speak directly. 4 www.coachinc.com & www.coachingwell.com Directing Style
Mediating Style Personal Style Summary Strengths *Interacts in a subtle, gentle, indirect and inclusive manner *Very good listener, understands others *Has expertise *Is loved by all *Defends others *Predictably open and honest *Encourages others through appreciation *Coaches and mentors colleagues *Creative with many good ideas *Good sense of humor May need to develop *Sharing personal experiences with others *Focusing on business issues *Methods to deal with personal conflicts *Comfort in taking risks *Tackle issues head-on *Spontaneity *Acceptance of praise *Faster decision making techniques Mediator as Communicator: How you can be more effective as a communicator Creative You enjoy and are good at exploring your creativity. Pace Since communicating comes naturally to you, you generally can match the pace of those you interact with. Control You do not need to have control over people or situations and would rather have others advance at their own pace. Endorsement Others will love your acknowledgements but remember to accept their compliments in return. Goal Directed When leading people, avoid the tendency to let others do what they want if they are heading in the wrong direction. If things get off track, give them a gentle nudge in the right direction. Life Balance Help others find balance in their lives though your example. Relationships You may need to resist your tendency to take care of people sometimes. Let people get to know you and follow your example because you really do have a lot to offer. Integrity At the expense of ideals, do not tolerate people you are leading if they are unwilling to accept responsibility for their parts of projects. 5 www.coachinc.com & www.coachingwell.com Mediating Style
Communicating with the Mediator: How you want to be communicated with Creative Mediators are creative. They are encouraged if their creativity is acknowledged. Pace Mediators can generally keep a steady pace but are sometimes sidetracked by trying to please others. Control Mediators do not control and do not like to be controlled. They value all people equally. Endorsement While Mediators tend not to ask for help, they treasure others thoughts about their work. They want to be recognized and valued. Goal Directed Mediators are often idealistic and may need help developing action steps to accomplish their visions and goals. Life Balance Mediators may focus more on people issues than business. They may need to learn how to balance this perspective. Relationships Mediators are generally liked by everyone. They listen to others but often do not share much about themselves. They may need to set clear expectations and practice asking for what they need or want. Focus When interacting with Mediators, insist that they have their needs met before working on the needs of others. Encourage faster decision making and progress. Mediators expect us to: Be personable Show steady progress Provide information about company integrity and reputation Demonstrate our personal interest and involvement Have a team focus Support their feelings, position and interests Hints for written or verbal communication: Start with a friendly greeting Emphasize working toward a mutual goal Allow time for a response Avoid challenging or confrontational words 6 www.coachinc.com & www.coachingwell.com Mediating Style
Strengths of the Mediator Mediators are often liked by everyone. They become experts in their field and are sought out for advice because of that expertise. They are extremely helpful and caring - sometimes to a fault. Mediators make everyone in the group feel comfortable. And, while they like people, they are generally reserved when communicating with others. They do not like to flaunt, so, Presenters may think that Mediators are uninspiring. Mediator leaders instill trust in those who work with them. They are patient, thorough, and tolerant of other people. Mediator leaders and Mediator employees can move mountains, one piece at a time! 7 www.coachinc.com & www.coachingwell.com Mediating Style
Strategizing Style Personal Style Summary Strengths *You like people, but not large groups *Confident if has the facts *Likes to give advice *Very thorough *Fair and unbiased *Clear communicator *Will take calculated risks *Enjoys structure *Likes to think things through *Takes others input seriously *Careful decision maker *Very good on follow-up and followthrough May need to develop *Acceptance of imperfection *Timely decision making *Lower dependency on knowing all the information *Remembering to acknowledge the positive contribution of others *Reduced focus on task-oriented items *Empathy *Focus on the positive *Willingness to take risks *Speed at embracing new ideas and processes *Time for leisure activities Strategist as Communicator: How you can be more effective as a communicator Creative Practice creative options rather than getting bogged down in logistics. Pace You will be able to quickly identify what is missing. People may ask you for your ideas because of your thoughtful approach. Control Be open to innovative approaches. You will learn new things from them. Endorsement Practice acknowledging the work of others. People appreciate and need endorsement. Goal Directed Resist forcing others to work on your time schedule - allow them the time to dream. Life Balance Improve your life balance so others can learn from you by example. Relationships Avoid being distant and focusing only on logistics. You have a lot of yourself to share, besides information. Integrity You have a high level of integrity but may get rule bound. Break away from old technology when you can. Others appreciate innovation. 8 www.coachinc.com & www.coachingwell.com Strategizing Style
Communicating with the Strategist: How you want to be communicated with Creative Strategists are not generally creative, but are a wealth of information. They may rely on standard procedures instead of innovation. Pace Strategists may appear slow-paced, but really just wants all facts. They often need time before meetings to prepare and collect data. Control Strategists are controlling of self and cling to the status quo. They dislike change. Endorsement Strategists often overlook complimenting others and instead pursue getting the job done. They may need reminding that acknowledging others can help get tasks completed. Goal Directed Strategists will complete projects, but they may get sidetracked on details vs. overall objectives. They may need support in setting appropriate goals. Life Balance Strategists may need help including new aspects in their lives, especially if the new aspects do not fit with the overall purpose of their work. Relationships Strategists tend to build secure and stable relationships but may stay in poor relationships out of duty. They need encouragement to define what relationship satisfaction entails for them. Focus Strategists need help seeing the bigger picture and how the details fit within this picture. They may need to learn to be more open to people issues. Strategists expect us to: Be professional Show disciplined use of time Work through problems logically Provide documented evidence Show how products or services can solve a problem Support their principles and rational approach Hints for written or verbal communication: Clearly state objectives Provide as much information and detail as possible Clearly state the action you are requesting from them Allow time for a response 9 www.coachinc.com & www.coachingwell.com Strategizing Style
Strengths of the Strategist Strategists are thorough, hardworking tacticians. They are expert analysts and problem solvers. They follow the rules, thinking things through slowly and carefully, questioning and evaluating nearly everything and everyone. Strategists dislike being wrong and making mistakes. They are clear and diplomatic communicators so you always know where they stand. Strategists tend to be perfectionists; you can trust that no stone has been left unturned. They are tuned into the operational flow and tasks that are critical to each project. They will not give up until the job is complete. 10 www.coachinc.com & www.coachingwell.com Strategizing Style
Presenting Style Personal Style Summary Strengths *Knows how to have fun *Positive and energetic *Communicates easily *Motivates others *Generates many ideas *Enjoys new projects *Gifted at promoting *Thrives socially and is open to others *Not rigid *Intuitive and empathetic May need to develop *Operational follow-through *Detailed problem solving capabilities *Ability to complete tasks *Achievement of delivery promises *Listening skills *Time Management *Disciplined management of finances *Not dominating meetings Presenter as Communicator: How you can be more effective as a communicator Creative You may have numerous ideas, but the people you motivate may have ideas too. Give them the opportunity to discover new things. Pace Hold yourself back when dealing with others and allow them to set the pace. Control You may be inclined to dominate conversations. Practice your listening skills. Endorsement You are very good at offering acknowledgement and support to others. Make sure you are sincere in your acknowledgement of others. Goal Directed Learn how to meet your own goals by teaching others to do so. Life Balance You tend to have a balanced life with diverse aspects. Try to balance the time spent on each aspect of your life. Relationships People you interact with will enjoy the close, trusting relationships you can foster and may feel that they can confide anything to you. Develop further trust by following up and following through. Integrity Make sure that your message is authentic. Practice what you preach. 11 www.coachinc.com & www.coachingwell.com Presenting Style
Communicating with the Presenter: How you want to be communicated with Creative Presenters thrive on creativity, making it difficult for them to remain focused. They need help narrowing their focus and delegating project tasks. Pace Presenters are strong starters. They are attracted to trends. They love being communicated with first. They may need to learn how to follow through on projects. Control Presenters do not necessarily want control of situations, they just like to be the center of attention. They are often laid-back and savour the moment. Endorsement Presenters often acknowledge others and appreciate acknowledgement. Goal Directed Presenters may have difficulty reaching their goals because they do not always follow through on ideas. They may need help getting focused. Life Balance Presenters tend to have varied aspects in their lives, all of which they must enjoy. However, it can be difficult for them to cover each area of their life adequately so reserves are often missing. Relationships Presenters can be difficult to work with because they do not always complete tasks. However, Presenters love and are loved by everyone and can be highly influential. When interacting with Presenters, set boundaries and clarify expectations. Focus Presenters need support in adding depth to their ideas. They may over promise and under deliver. When they finally make a commitment to complete a task, they will need to learn how to focus on follow-through. Presenters expect us to: Be outgoing Develop an informal relationship Reveal information about ourselves Give them recognition and approval for their ideas Describe the human side of a product or service Support their ideas, opinions and intuitions Hints for written or verbal communication: Get to the point quickly Thank them for their ideas and creativity Explain how they will benefit Ask for their ideas 12 www.coachinc.com & www.coachingwell.com Presenting Style
Strengths of the Presenter Presenters know everyone who is important. They love to talk to anyone about anything, anytime. Presenters are animated, energetic, and spontaneous. They like to have everything they do be fun. They are excellent communicators and can be very persuasive. They often embellish their experiences with colorful anecdotes. Presenters are perceived as successful. They like variety, are curious and sometimes impulsive. They do not like to be tied down to one thing and quickly lose interest in projects after initiation. People are drawn to them because of their insight and tend to readily confide in them. Presenters are comfortable being the center of attention. 13 www.coachinc.com & www.coachingwell.com Presenting Style