Understanding the rules of communication can help you manage conversations and presentations
90% (my guesstimate) of confidence is how we feel and manage ourselves in the presence of others. Some people seem to respond appropriately no matter what the circumstance. We want that too, yet most of us don’t know that it’s possible to learn and use simple rules of human behavior. In fact, without those rules it’s like we are playing a piano concerto without knowing how to read music.
We all have behavioral preferences that directly affect our communication style. And, even with each of us being totally unique, those behavioral styles can be grouped so that it’s easier to predict what someone will say and do under different circumstances. Imagine if you could pull back the curtain on what people are thinking and feeling and then adapt what you say and do to improve the communication. What if you could:
- Understand your own communication preferences and how your habits can enhance, or inhibit, communication with others.
- Be able to easily read the style cues of others so that you can gauge what they think and feel about a situation and anticipate their likely response.
- Improve communication with others by flexing to their point of view, or sharing your point of view in a way that will carry more influence with that person.
My all time favorite is the Social Style (or the DISC assessment). I have used this tool with hundreds of clients and students and it is one of the aspects of our work that most stays with them. Recently I have been working with Strengths Finder 2.0, which also helps understand ourselves and people who are different from us. These tools are great for understanding our own preferences. They are also great for understanding the preferences of others, and that’s often where the juice is.
I invite you to learn more about these tools by writing to me, or grab the Strengths Finder 2.0 or People Styles at Work.
Good luck and enjoy the crisp weather!
Claire