Working with Communication Styles Module Summary

Purpose
To increase your awareness of communication styles, help you accept and appreciate style differences, and to learn to adapt to achieve the best communication results

Learning Goals
· Identify your own communication style
· Recognize differences in communication styles
· Develop strategies for working with people whose communication styles differ from yours

Learning Principles
· The A List: Aware, Accept, Appreciate, Adapt, Achieve
· Recognizing four communication style types
· Ways to effectively communicate with these different style types

Communication Style Model
Develop an appreciation for four styles:
· Achiever
· Anchor
· Analyzer
· Adventurer

Individual and Group Exercises
· Small Group Exercise: Introducing our differences
· Self-Assessment: Determine your communication style
· Like Style Groups: Complete a report about your style
· Recognizing Communication Styles: Evaluate four case study examples

Discussions
· What is your dominant style?
· Identifying important communication styles insights

Case Study/Role Play
· Case study: Determine the communication style of each individual whose approval you need and decide how you will present to each style

Speed Bumps
Places to slow down

Action Planning
Complete a worksheet to prepare for communicating effectively with someone whose style is different from yours: team member, customer, supervisor, or member of another team

Approximate Time Length of Module: 3.0 – 3.5 hours