Written by Niki Kerr, Business Coach
Niki Kerr, an award-winning business coach and one of LinkedIn’s Top Voices, is a leading expert in fostering rapid personal and professional development for consultants, business leaders, and transitioning solopreneurs. As the founder of Great Futures Global, she helps professionals not only scale their business but also unlock their full potential through transformative growth.
Imagine a world where every conversation was met with a smile; every employee knew exactly what was expected, your clients agreed, families chuckled, and loved ones blushed with mutual understanding; let me introduce you to the power of advanced communications.
Why communication matters
People love to do business with those they know, like and trust, and on a personal level we all prefer to be around people who are engaging and we feel understand us. Communication is a massive topic and the following article is designed to help you have some light bulb moments so you can start to orchestrate your own personal and professional development in this tricky but crucial subject area.
Did you know that when it comes to team engagement, the number one desire according to Gallup’s workforce job satisfaction questionnaire (Q12 ) is that they know what is required of them. When you engage a contractor or share a vision, your expectation is that the outcome will be communicated. Yet, despite our best intentions, the message often gets lost in translation. According to the 7-38-55 rule, only 7% of a conversation’s meaning is conveyed through words, with 38% coming from tone of voice and 55% from body language. This means that a staggering 93% of communication relies on non-verbal cues which are often overlooked or misinterpreted.
The challenge of different communication styles
Now, let’s add another layer of complexity: the diversity of different communication styles. In any group, you’ll find some individuals who are direct and to the point, while others are more detailed and prefer comprehensive explanations. Some communicate with enthusiasm and energy, while others are calm and reserved. This diversity, while enriching, can also be a source of confusion and misinterpretation.
The pain of misinterpretation
Remember that time you were presenting, perhaps you were training or sharing a new project idea. You spend hours preparing, ensuring every detail is perfect but as you speak, you notice some colleagues nodding along, while others seem to be nodding off! After the meeting, feedback varies wildly—some loved your idea, others found it confusing, and a few missed the point completely.
Or recall that moment when you dived into a project with enthusiasm, you knew exactly what was required and worked hard producing fantastic work, only to find out it was all wrong.
The sting of realising that your effort, though excellent, was just off point and that this small misunderstanding like the tiny opening of a compass, at first, seemed insignificant, but as the divergence widens, so does the ever-growing gap. Before you know it, you're so far off course swallowed by a sea of your own internal interpretation, with the current pulling you in a wonderful but completely different direction.
These moments of misinterpretation or disconnect are not just minor hiccups; they are like cracks in a foundation that can lead to significant and unnecessary mistakes, broken relationships, and a siege of misunderstandings.
But what if we could turn these moments of frustration into opportunities for growth? What if we could learn to recognise the early signs of miscommunication and address them before they translate into dissatisfied clients, missed opportunities, wasted time and expense, increased attrition, or broken personal relationships.
Lightbulb moments
Step back and reflect. Why didn’t that project didn’t go as planned? At what point did it go off course? And while we’re on the subject, how about that conversation with a loved one? At what point did it turn into a disagreement? Or maybe as the recipient, what would have helped or produced an aha moment when we finally grasped what our boss was trying to convey in a team meeting. These are the times when we understand that communication is a two-way responsibility and enhancing our communication skills could be an absolute game changer, transforming not only our professional but even our personal interactions and outcomes,
Beyond words: The DISC approach
To navigate the complexities of communication effectively, we must look beyond words and consider the entire spectrum of how we communicate, our tone, body language, and most importantly, our communication style. This is where the DISC profiling model comes into play. It’s the most validated personality profiling tool in use and the one we use at Great Futures Global.
The DISC model categorizes personality styles into four primary types: D= Dominance, I = Influence, S = Steadiness, and C = Conscientiousness. Each style has its own strengths, weaknesses, and preferred ways of interacting. Understanding these styles can help us tailor our communication to better connect with others, whether in the workplace, at home, or in social settings and we will delve deeper into this a bit later.
Understanding your communication style
The first step to better Interactions and improved communication starts with a deeper understanding of how others perceive your style. It's not just about what you say, but how you say it, and how your message is received by different personalities. By gaining insight into your own communication style, you can begin to recognise your strengths, identify areas for improvement, and avoid the pitfalls of overusing your natural tendencies.
Identifying your strengths
Every communication style comes with its own set of strengths. Perhaps you're naturally assertive, which can be a tremendous asset when clear leadership and the ability to make quick decisions are needed. Or maybe you excel at building rapport and making people feel comfortable and valued in your presence. Understanding these strengths allows you to leverage them effectively in your interactions. Perhaps you’re detail-oriented and analytical or quite the opposite, more enthusiastic, even a bit of a social butterfly, always ready with a story, a personal example, and incredibly blessed with the power of persuasion.
The pitfalls of overusing strengths
It’s not uncommon to have had an introduction to profiling, and maybe you even know your style. Diluted models may label you as a red or a green, a bird or a fish, etc., and while this is all very entertaining, it detracts from the value of understanding the deeper, more professional application that the DISC model makes of this science.
You see even our strengths can become weaknesses if overused or applied in the wrong context. Understanding where your strengths might trip you up is crucial for balanced communication.
Dominance can turn into overbearing behaviour if you're too forceful, potentially stifling input from others.
Influence might lead to overpromising or lacking follow-through if you're too focused on enthusiasm without grounding it in reality.
Steadiness can become resistance to change, where your desire for harmony prevents necessary innovation or difficult conversations.
Conscientiousness can lead to analysis paralysis or being overly critical, where a focus on details hinders progress or creates unnecessary tension.
How to balance your communication style
The key here is balance and choice, no one wants to feel they cannot be themselves and to truly be your self you want your communication to land as intended. This can be achieved by being mindful, quite literally being aware of when to dial up or dial down certain behaviours to meet the situation and communication needs of others.
The most practical first step would be to take a self-assessment: Start by identifying your primary communication style using high-quality tools like the DISC assessment. This will help you understand your default approach and how it impacts others. Then you can practice adjusting your style based on your audience. If you’re naturally assertive, try dialing it down in situations that require more empathy. If you’re more reserved, push yourself to be more expressive when necessary.
Continuous and advanced learning is also key, and like everything, the more you practice the more effective your communication will be.
By taking these steps, you'll not only improve how you communicate but also how you’re perceived by others. Understanding your communication style and its impact on those around you is key to fostering stronger, more effective relationships, whether at work, home, or in any social setting. As you become more aware of your strengths and how to balance them, you will be better equipped to navigate the complexities of all human interaction you’ll transform your own emotional intelligence and skyrocket your ability to influence others. And although this is only the very first level, so much can be achieved even through these cursory insights.
If this subject fascinates you or is of paramount importance for your professional success, you may want to consider taking it to a more advanced level where in one day, you will learn predictive behaviour, team strengths, quite literally what makes people tick, what turns them on what turns them off and how to flex your style accordingly to become more impactful in any scenario.
Our Public Advance Communication Training Days currently take place in Spain and England. Alternatively, email Niki@greatfuturesglobal.com or use the contact form to discuss how we could deliver bespoke training for your teams.
Are you ready to take the next step? Understanding your own communication style is the gateway to a world where every interaction is clearer, more productive, and more rewarding. Start your journey today and see how mastering communication can transform not just your conversations but your entire approach to life.
Read more from Niki Kerr
Niki Kerr, Business Coach
Niki's personal mantra, "There is always a way," is a reflection of her life experiences and determination. Having faced the loss of a parent at an early age, she developed resilience and a drive to become more than what was expected of her. This mantra has guided her through her career and continues to inspire her clients to overcome their own challenges and achieve greatness.
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