Speak Your Colleague's Language

As a writer, I spend a lot of time thinking about how I communicate and deliver my message. I ask myself, “How is my communication received by others?” Is my tone appealing to my audience? Do they “get” my points? What seems confusing to them and what questions are left unanswered. 

One of the areas I’ve been focusing on lately is circular versus linear communication. 

A linear communicator leads with logic. His/her involvement in the conversation follows step-by-step points to the main idea, almost like the speaker developed an outline before having a conversation with you. A linear communicator finds a “just the facts, ma’am” style most appealing, and solutions to any problem should be based on said facts, as well as intellectual engagement and reasoning. 

A circular communicator engages in discussions with less focus on one main idea, preferring to guide the conversation with storytelling or examples. These communicators lack the structure that a linear communicator has and may not ever state the “main idea” outright; rather, they assume the listener will understand the main idea with the context created by the circular thinker.  

Imagine a circular thinker and a linear thinker communicating with each other. Depending on how strongly each one leads with his/her particular style, communication can be downright rough! If you’ve ever been involved in a conversation that lacks understanding between parties, consider whether differing communication styles may be the culprit. 

First, assess your own style. 

Spend about a week observing yourself when you communicate. You may even want to jot down notes in a small journal or with a note-taking app. Do you share step-by-step project lists with your team or do you prefer free-flowing brainstorming sessions? Where does your focus go in conversations- to facts, or feelings? Do you get to the main idea right away or do you provide context with storytelling and let your listeners develop their own conclusions? 

Next, observe your team, direct reports, and colleagues. 

Whenever you’re in conversation with someone, start to assess which style he or she is using. Ask the same questions you asked yourself, but apply it to those you are listening to. Which of your direct reports communicate with colorful language and no clear direction to the main idea? Do your colleagues give presentations rich with facts and figures that they use to give recommendations for next steps? (Bonus: you can also do this with family members and friends!)

Decide how to tweak your conversations based on your findings. 

In what ways are you and your colleagues and direct reports different in communication styles? How might tweaking your own style help your coworkers understand you better? For example, linear thinkers can come across as abrupt, cold, and unfeeling to circular thinkers. How might you adopt some of the storytelling capabilities of a circular thinker in bringing your point home? You want to adopt some aspect of the other person’s style without completely abandoning your own—a little contextual storytelling around the facts and figures you want to deliver in your message will “warm up” your conversation with a circular thinker. Try it and see what happens! 

Bring it to your team. 

While it’s great to practice new ways of communicating to members of your team, the goal should be to get everyone on board with understanding the differences and figuring out the best ways to communicate with each other. It’s not about one person catering to the needs of the others. Rather, each person should have a strong understanding of his or her style, and how to adapt it when necessary. When each person exercises their communication muscles, everyone benefits. 

—Victoria Crispo, July 2015 Career Coach