Given how prone all communication is to misinterpretation, each of us has to do more than listen and nod when others are trying to connect with us. This is true not only in our personal lives, but also in the work setting.
Whether you own a business or work for one, there are people you need to please, be they customers, investors, volunteers, managers or colleagues. One way to ensure satisfying them is to understand both their needs and their way of relating to the world. With that knowledge, you can customize your message and the medium for delivering it.
The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator is a tool on which many businesses rely to help staff understand their own and others’ preferences in tasks such as working in teams and making decisions. It is also widely used to help employees better identify — and accommodate — the communication styles of their co-workers.
The MBTI identifies individuals as having one of 16 different personality “types,” based upon a survey of their personal preferences. Each personality type has a preferred manner of communicating. There are no “right” or “wrong” types; all 16 can be equally successful — albeit very different — communicators.
For instance, some MBTI types are more gregarious than others. Classic extroverts, these individuals draw their energy primarily from others. In the work setting, you might expect these types to be most comfortable communicating (and working) with others in groups.
On the other end of the MBTI preference spectrum are those who draw their energy and ideas largely from within. These folks tend to value sharing information in small groups, one on one, or even by more impersonal means, such as email.
Knowing the MBTI communication types of the people in your workplace can give you valuable insight into how best to relate to them — and they to you.
Besides using a formal tool, you can certainly ask people about their communication preferences, or you can use answers to the following questions as your guide:
Have others made their preferences known? Do clients ask you to stay in touch by phone or email? Does your boss like to meet with you in person? Do colleagues request written updates on projects? (Take your direction from these cues, but keep your eyes and ears open. A client of mine for many years said she preferred to communicate via email. Only recently did I discover she was a hunt-and-peck typist who, not surprisingly, embraced my suggestion for in-person meetings instead.)
How do others typically communicate with you? Does your manager come to your work area to discuss projects, or does he send you assignments remotely? Do customers call you when they need help, or do they send email? Take note of these nuances and try responding accordingly.
Have your own preferences overshadowed those of others? Do your company’s investors receive email because they prefer it, or because it’s the most efficient or convenient way for your business to share news? To be certain, conduct a regular survey of your audience. The results may surprise you.
Listen, observe, accommodate others’ preferences and try your best to push through potential differences and misunderstandings. It’s sound advice, both on the job and off.
Gail Wilkerson owns Accent Business Consulting in Falmouth, which specializes in strategic planning, customer service, marketing and special events consulting for organizations large and small. She has been a communications and planning professional for nearly 20 years. Contact her at gwilkerson@accentbusinessconsulting.com.