Naturally, we all have a preferred way of communicating easily identified by the Forté Benchmark Communication Style Profile which reveals your unique communication strengths and preferences. Wouldn’t it be great if the way we prefer to communicate was the way others preferred as well?

Not the case. It can be tricky interacting with people who have different communication styles than yours. This is why it is important as a leader to learn how to recognize and adapt to different communication styles in the workplace. After all, it is the leader’s responsibility to earn the trust of their team members with the added benefit of creating a more dynamic and positive environment. All of us communicate differently, but those differences don’t have to make matters difficult in business or in the workplace.

Learning to work well with different communication styles is imperative as organizations are looking to build better work cultures. Finding meaningful ways to connect and get your message across effectively while adjusting to remote and hybrid work structures is also an invaluable and timely skill set thereby making your team members feel both heard and involved regardless of location.

These stronger work relationships will increase engagement and productivity which leads to greater retention. Communication is the key component of everything we do in the workplace, and it is critical to know how to effectively communicate with your team.

How do we learn to communicate in a way that strengthens relationships?

Again, identifying your team member’s communication style using the Forté Communication Style Profile is the first step. By learning your team members’ communication strengths and adapting to them as necessary, you are communicating with them in a way that resonates with them.

Imagine going in for a meeting and being able to tailor your message according to the personal preferences of the person in the room. Imagine learning how to have constructive and effective conversations with people whatever their style is. This is an express lane to improve collaboration across all communication channels.

Now, imagine your team members knowing YOUR unique communication style. Forté’s Interaction Report (free after completion of the Benchmark Survey) allows you to share with your team what makes you tick as you get to know each other better. This creates the exponentially beneficial ability to mutually adapt to each other, opening the door to a higher level of interpersonal communication to achieve common goals, leading to better business outcomes.
 
While each communication style brings both opportunities and challenges, disparate styles of communication are an asset in the workplace. Knowing which style is useful in each situation and having an appreciation for the complementary nature of differing strengths will bolster collaboration and foster trust.  
 
Interacting with individuals who have different styles of communication than yours doesn’t have to be tricky. The Forté Team Pulse reports and Interaction reports offer relief from the stress of workplace misunderstandings and frustration by revealing how team members fit together, how they are adapting in the current environment, and how they contribute to the success of the team.

These tools assist in reducing miscommunication as you consider both your needs and the needs of those you are communicating with. Having this invaluable insight into how to effectively motivate your team members allows you to adjust your style to the audience and communicate in a way that is going to be well-received.
 
As a leader, every interaction you have will have an immediate impact on those around you so keeping your finger on the pulse of your team and making positive communication choices will promote a culture of trust and strengthen interpersonal relations. Increasing team happiness is a fast track to accelerating both business and personal performance and growth. You will feel equipped to manage different communication styles effectively because communication preferences shouldn’t be a secret or a guessing game.
 
The Forté Institute helps you improve work communication which will have a dramatic impact on creating a better environment for your team. Our suite of communication tools provides greater clarity along with easily applied coaching feedback for teams looking to develop and maintain a positive and productive work culture. Better work communication results in better cross-functional collaboration and teamwork.

If you would like to take the journey with us, click here and you'll be taken to our website, where you can complete your own complimentary Forté Communication Style Report.