Maximise Your #PersonalBrand Part 2 - #CommunicationStyles

Which style do you naturally prefer? What happens to your communication style when you are under pressure?

Don't score an own goal with the wrong communication style

Communication is an important element of your personal brand, it defines who you are and how you interact with others. This post builds on our earlier blog post "Maximising Your Personal Brand Part 1 –Self Awareness".

We all have a natural or preferred communication style and this blog post explores the various communication styles, linking them to the transactional analysis ego states. Often we use a different style depending on the situation or who we are interacting with. As part of any robust career management strategy it is important to flex your communication style and not adopt a one size fits all approach. Effective communicators influence others, gaining buy-in and engagement.

Building on the earlier theme of self awareness give some thought to what happens to your communication style when you are under pressure – does it become more pronounced, change radically or alienate others?

There are lots of free self assessment tools and questionnaires available on the internet to help you determine your communication style. Which style(s) do you think you use?

Style: Assertive	Passive	Aggressive	Passive Aggressive
Ego State: “I’m OK You’re OK”	“You’re OK I’m not”	“I’m OK You’re not”	“You’re not OK I’m not OK”
Transactional Analysis: Adult	Child	Controlling Parent	Rebellious Child
·  Best style ·  High self esteem ·  Genuine ·  Gains respect ·  Least used	·  Pleases others and avoids conflict ·  Low self esteem ·  Doesn’t contribute views	·  Ineffective style as causes reactions ·  Often at the expense of others ·  Low self esteem	·  Appear passive but actually subtly undermine others ·  Indirectly aggressive ·  Devious ·  Two-faced ·  Sarcastic ·  Criticises self
·  Open body language ·  Listen & don’t interrupt ·  Good eye contact	·  Avoids eye contact ·  Closed body language	·  Loud ·  Intimidating ·  Out to win	·  Sweet and innocent ·  Fake ·  Mismatch between verbal and non verbal
Builds good relationships with others	Low energy, gives in too easily, lacks confidence, can be self critical & resentful	Can upset others, and appear angry and hostile	Can remain stuck in the victim mindset, so can’t move on. Can alienate themselves from others