Personality and Style Affects Communication

As year-end nears, the time is now to clear out [publish] all those drafts in my toolbox.

Law Practice Today

Building Blocks: The Interpersonal Communication Toolbox

By Stewart Levine

September 2007

Instruments Demonstrate Differences

There are many different instruments that reveal style differences in different aspects of communication. They include:

• PSI - Personal Styles Inventory
• DISC - (i.e., Dominant, Influencer, Steady, Conscientious)
• MBTI - Myers Briggs
• Influence Inventory
• Relationship Strategies
• Thomas Killian Conflict Style

These instruments serve a few very useful purposes. They make us aware of the different way people receive and deliver information. That usually explains why we are challenged communicating with particular individuals. That enables us to use what we learn about our audiences so we can communicate more effectively.

Using an instrument for a team or work-group and making people aware of the styles of others is a very useful tool for developing effectiveness in communicating to particular individuals. The instruments reveal preferences along a continuum of opposite styles. They shed light on why you may be having difficulty communicating with particular individuals. They provide information and strategies on the best way to communicate with people of the opposite or the same styles.

They deliver the message that although we tend to have preferences because of our experience, how we developed or our genetic inclination, we have the capacity to consciously chose to “flex” our style so we can be more effective in dealing with people who have different preferences. “Flexing” is the way we develop our communication muscles!