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Understanding your communication style is important for effective interaction with others. Becoming aware of your own tendencies can empower you to adapt to different contexts. Let’s discuss 4 main types of communication styles: passive, aggressive, passive-aggressive, and assertive.
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- Assertive. Assertive communication implies expressing yourself effectively while respecting others’ rights and beliefs (Long et al., 2021). This style is characterized by open, honest, and direct conversation.
- Aggressive. Aggressive communication is a style where individuals express their thoughts and feelings without regard for others (Watson & Hill, 2015).
- Passive. Passive communication entails avoiding expressing personal feelings, thoughts, or needs, often leading to personal dissatisfaction (Long et al., 2021).
- Passive-Aggressive. Passive-aggressive communication is a style in which individuals digress their feelings and disapproval indirectly rather than openly addressing them (McDougall & Pollard, 2019).
- Assertive communication. Typically, the most respectful and productive communication style, assertive communicators share their thoughts and ideas confidentially – and always with respect and politeness.
- Passive communication. This style of communication can be overlooked in the workplace, even have voices drowned out by more aggressive communicators. Many passive communicators fail to effectively communicate their wants or needs for fear of reproach or embarrassment, especially in the workplace.
- Aggressive communication. Aggressive communicators frequently express their thoughts and feelings, often in a heated or even enraged manner. They tend to dominate conversations, often at the expense of others.
- Passive aggressive communication. On the surface, they can appear passive, and agreeable, but don’t make a passive aggressive communicator for a wilting flower.
- Passive Communication. Passive communicators often have difficulty expressing feelings or needs, especially in the workplace. Many describe passive communicators as people pleasers.
- Aggressive Communication. Aggressive communicators have no trouble expressing their thoughts and feelings. This type of communication in the workplace can sometimes be perceived as hostile or defensive.
- Passive-Aggressive Communication. Passive-aggressive is a type of communication that combines two styles. While you may think it’s the best of both worlds to combine two communication styles, it’s actually more frustrating and confusing.
- Assertive Communication. The assertive communication style is all about being respectful and confident. This style is known for being the most effective communication style in the workplace.
- Overview
- Passive Communication Style
- Aggressive Communication Style
- Passive-Aggressive Communication Style
- Assertive Communication Style
- What Kind of Communicator Are You?
- How to Improve Your Communication Skills
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We encounter a ton of different personalities at work. Some are easy to get along with; whereas, others are harder to vibe with. How well we're able to work with people often depends on our workplace communication style.
So, what exactly is a workplace communication style? Your workplace communication style is the manner in which you share ideas, information, and issues in a professional setting. A combination of verbal and nonverbal cues, it affects how you interact, learn, share, and collaborate.
Research shows that effective and appropriate communication is linked to greater productivity, better organizational health, and increased employee satisfaction. How we communicate can also play a huge role in determining our personal and professional growth and success.
Our communication style is based on our unique characteristics, which drive our approach to sharing and exchanging information with others, says Octavia Goredema, a career coach and author of “Prep, Push, Pivot.”
Identifying your communication style will allow you to enhance your interactions with others and play an important role in building your personal brand.
These are some of the characteristics of a passive workplace communication style:
•Reluctance to speak up: Someone with a passive workplace communication style may hesitate to express their thoughts, opinions, ideas, and needs. Instead of speaking up, they may wait for others to take the lead.
•Conflict avoidance: Passive communicators often go to great lengths to avoid conflicts or disagreements. They may choose not to give others feedback or address issues directly.
•Difficulty setting boundaries: They may find it difficult to decline requests or express their own limitations. They might agree to tasks or responsibilities they are uncomfortable with because they are unable to say “no.”
•Indirect communication: They may use indirect language or non-verbal cues to convey their thoughts or emotions, which can sometimes cause misunderstandings and confusion.
•Low self-confidence: A passive communication style often stems from a lack of self-confidence. The person may doubt their own abilities, which can prevent them from expressing themselves openly. They may fear rejection, so they may hold back their ideas or opinions.
These are some of the characteristics of an aggressive workplace communication style:
•Dominance: People who communicate aggressively tend to try and control conversations and situations. They may interrupt others, raise their voice unnecessarily, or use forceful body language to assert dominance.
•Bluntness: Aggressive communicators may be blunt and direct in their communication, sometimes to the point of being rude or tactless.
•Disregard for boundaries: They may ignore personal or professional boundaries, which can be inappropriate and uncomfortable.
•Resistance to compromise: They may resist compromise and aggressively try to put their point across or ensure things are done their way.
•Personal attacks: This communication style can involve insults, personal attacks, or name-calling. The person may attack someone's character or abilities in an attempt to assert their own superiority. In turn, they may be defensive when questioned or challenged.
A passive-aggressive communication style combines elements of both passive and aggressive behavior. These are some of the characteristics of this communication style:
•Covert criticism: Passive-aggressive communicators may use sarcasm, backhanded compliments, eye-rolls, or disrespectful gestures to indirectly mock or criticize someone’s ideas or actions.
•Indirect communication: Rather than addressing issues head-on, people who communicate passive-aggressively resort to more subtle, indirect tactics. They use veiled language that leaves room for ambiguity and later gives them an opportunity to deny their words.
•Silent treatment: Rather than communicating clearly, they might give people the silent treatment or withhold important information as a form of expressing displeasure.
•Subtle sabotage: They may subtly engage in actions that undermine other people’s projects or initiatives.
•Involvement of others: Instead of addressing issues directly with the concerned parties, they might complain to colleagues or superiors to garner sympathy or support. They might frame themselves as victims, deflecting responsibility for their passive-aggressive behavior.
These are some of the characteristics of an assertive workplace communication style:
•Straightforwardness: Assertive communicators express themselves clearly, using straightforward language to convey their thoughts and ideas. They are often direct and to the point, says Morgan. They can say “no” or set boundaries when necessary.
•Confidence: People who communicate assertively speak with conviction, projecting confidence and self-assurance.
•Respect: Assertive people respect others’ opinions, feelings, and autonomy. They acknowledge differing viewpoints and seek common ground.
•Ownership: Assertive individuals take ownership of their feelings and communicate them without blaming others. They use "I" statements to express emotions.
•Expressive body language: They use open and engaged body language while communicating. For instance, they maintain eye contact and use gestures to reinforce their messages.
Our fast and free communication styles quiz can help give you some insight into how you interact with others and what it could mean for your interpersonal relationships, both at work and at home.
These are some strategies that can help you improve your workplace communication skills, according to the experts:
•Develop self-awareness: Take some time to self-reflect and become more aware of your communication style at work. Identify your strengths and pay attention to areas that could use improvement. It can also be helpful to ask your colleagues for feedback on your communication style.
•Decide what you want to be known for: Goredema recommends deciding what you want to be known for at work and then considering how your communication style can support that reputation.
•Listen actively to others: Active listening is a strategy that will serve you well, says Goredema. She explains that it involves listening fully to what the other person is saying, without interrupting, making assumptions, or jumping to conclusions based on their words or nonverbal cues. You can show the person that you're engaged and actively listening by nodding, maintaining eye contact, and asking clarifying questions during the conversation.
•Ask open-ended questions: Close-ended questions typically evoke a “yes” or “no” response, whereas open-ended questions can reveal underlying motivations, beliefs, and attitudes that may not be apparent at the outset, says Goredema.
•Adapt to your audience: Tailor your communication style to the preferences and needs of your audience. Adjust your approach depending on whether you're speaking with colleagues, clients, or superiors.
Research shows us people have four different styles of communicating. We call these styles: Director, Expresser, Thinker and Harmonizer. Each style has its own way of seeing the world. Each favors a certain way of listening, responding, making decisions, and solving problems. 1. The Four Communication Styles. COMMUNICATION STYLES IMAGE #1.
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Jun 30, 2021 · Assertiveness is the healthiest communication style among the four basic communication styles that you could identify with: passive, aggressive, passive-aggressive and assertive. They form a spectrum where assertiveness is right in the middle, it’s the perfect balance between being too passive or too aggressive.
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