Styles of Communication

First you have the emotive style of communication. An emotive person gives the appearance of being busy, a person who combines higher dominance and higher sociability often displays spontaneous, uninhabited behavior. The emotive person is likely to express feelings with vigorous movement of hands and a rapid speech pattern. Emotives tend to be extroverts. They move to a first name basis as soon as possible. Even the way a person sits in a chair communicates a preference for a relaxed, informal social setting. Emotive people generally do not hide their feelings. They often express opinions dramatically and impulsively.

Then you have the directive style of communication, the directive generally do not like to waste time and wants to get right to the point. The directive may give the impression of not listening. In most cases the directives feel more comfortable talking than listening. A directive person shows a serious attitude. A person who is lower in sociability usually communicates a lack of warmth and is apt to be quiet businesslike and impersonal; and they like to maintain control.

Next is the reflective style of communication. The reflective person tends to examine all the facts carefully before arriving at a decision. The reflective person is usually a stickler for detail. The reflective communication style combines lower dominance and lower sociability therefore people with this classification tend to be reserved and cautious. Reflective people tend to curb emotional expression and are less likely to display warmth openly. The reflective person enjoys a highly structured environment and generally feels frustration when confronted with unexpected events. The reflective person usually does not express dramatic opinions, and the reflective person tends to be somewhat formal in social relationships and therefore can be viewed as aloof by many people. In a selling situation the reflective customer does not want to move too fast. This person wants the facts presented in an orderly and unemotional manner and does not want to waste a lot of time socializing.

Lastly is the supportive style of communication. They complete their task in a quiet, unassuming manner and seldom draw attention to what they have accomplished. People with the supportive communication style can easily display their feelings but not in the assertive manner common to the emotive individual. They listen attentively to other person which is a talent that comes naturally to the supportive person. The supportive person tends to avoid the use of power they more likely to rely on friendly persuasion. And they make decisions in a thoughtful and deliberate manner. The supportive person usually takes longer to make decisions.

Out of the four communication styles I find myself to fall into the Supportive and Emotive style. Because I am one that listens first I'm a firm believer that we were giving one mouth and two ears for a reason, to listen more