...say they’re uncomfortable communicating with employees. And that number is significantly higher when the roles are reversed.

69% of managers

Dos:<ul>
<li>Provide as much detail upfront as possible</li>
<li>Set clear expectations</li>
<li>Give them space to work independently</li></ul>Don'ts:<ul><li>Turning the conversation emotional;</li><li>Framing feedback on their work as criticism.</li></ul>

Working with an analytical communication style

Personal communicators value connection, relationships, and emotional language above all.  They're good listeners and often can help smooth over issues that more hard-lined communication styles cause.When they dig into something, they care as much (or more) about the person saying it as what they’re saying.

Personal communication style

Functional communicators love the process: step-by-step guides, details, timelines, and thought-through plans. When talking to someone else, they want to go through each detail from start to finish to make sure nothing gets missed or glossed over.

Functional communication style

Dos:<ul>
<li>Keep conversations light and casual</li>
<li>Not get offended if they ask how something made you “feel” or make a strictly work conversation personal.</li></ul>Don'ts:<ul><li>Talking down to them or being overly pessimistic;</li><li>Try to contain the conversation to just stats and facts</li><li>Pressure them to do a deep dive into the details with you.</li></ul>

Working with a personal communication style

An analytical communicator loves hard data, numbers, and specific language. They're usually wary of people who deal in vague language and strictly blue-sky ideas and get drained quickly when conversations move from logical to emotional.

Analytical communication style

Intuitive communicators thrive on big-picture ideas and broad overviews that allow them to skip directly to what’s most important.Linear order, step-by-step instructions, and deep dives into the details aren’t important.

Intuitive communication style

Dos:<ul>
<li>Stick to the main topic and keep it high-level;</li>
<li>Be prepared to answer follow-up questions;</li>
<li>Keep details to a minimum.</li></ul>Don'ts:<ul><li>Too many details;</li><li>Taking their approach personally;</li><li>Making too big promises (they’ll latch onto the big picture and ignore the details of how hard it might be to pull off).</li></ul>

Working with an intuitive communication style

Dos:<ul>
<li>Practice “active listening” by repeating what they’ve said and asking follow-up questions</li>
<li>Expect them to ask for details, even if you’re just brainstorming</li>
</ul>Don'ts:<ul>
<li>Rushing them to get to the end or make a decision</li>
<li>Assume they support an idea 100% (their criticism or feedback will often be on the steps, not the overall strategy).</li></ul>

Working with a functional communication style

It's probably safe to say you've left at least one meeting, call, or customer visit and thought to yourself, "What the heck was that person even talking about?" Clear and effective communication is one of the easiest ways to reduce workplace stress, boost productivity, and build better relationships with your coworkers.