Understanding Your Communication Style

            Communication styles are the patterns of behaviors that are observable to others. Communication style tends to be stable throughout a person's lifetime. Each person has a distinctive way of responding to people and events. Communication style bias is a common problem in organizations and should be viewed as a major barrier to good human relations.

            The communication style model is formed by combining Two important dimensions of human behavior: dominance and sociability. Combinations of these two aspects create four communication styles &- emotive, director, reflective, and supportive. With practice you can learn to identify other people's communication styles. A third dimension of human behavior &- versatility &- is important in dealing with varying communication styles. You can adjust your own style to meet the needs of others &- a process called style flexing.