As Assistants, we know that communication is at the heart of everything we do. It’s how we build trust, influence decisions, and keep everything running smoothly. But let’s face it—communication isn’t one-size-fits-all. That’s why understanding diverse communication styles is such an essential skill for us to master.
In this article, we’ll explore:
By the end of this, you’ll have actionable insights to help you adapt your approach and strengthen your relationships with everyone you work with.
Let’s start with visual communicators. They’re the ones who rely on sight and imagery to process information. You might notice they often say things like “I see what you mean” or “Let’s look at it this way.”
Sound familiar?
When we’re working with someone like this, it’s important to remember that they thrive on visuals—think graphs, charts, and well-organized reports. Even a neatly formatted email can go a long way. If you’ve ever created a beautiful presentation for your Executive and seen it click, you’ve already tapped into the power of understanding diverse communication styles with visual communicators.
This template provides you with practical, ready-to-use dialogues tailored for various common scenarios where you might need to refuse a request at work. Equip yourself with the right words to handle difficult conversations gracefully.
Next up are auditory communicators. These are the people who process information best by hearing it. You might hear them say things like “That sounds great” or “I hear you.” They’re often fantastic listeners and remember details from conversations that others might miss. When we’re working with auditory communicators, conversations, meetings, and even a quick phone call can be much more effective than a lengthy email. And let’s be honest—how many of us have had an Executive who’d rather talk through a plan than read a report? Recognizing this preference is a big step toward mastering and understanding diverse communication styles.
Now, kinesthetic communicators are a little different. They’re the tactile learners who like to physically engage with what they’re working on. They might say things like “I’ve got a handle on this” or “Let’s walk through it together.” If you’re working with someone like this, think hands-on. Maybe it’s about walking through a process together, setting up role-playing scenarios, or even bringing a physical prototype into the room. For these communicators, actions really do speak louder than words. By tuning into this style, we deepen our connection and improve how we work together.
As Assistants, we often have to be chameleons—adapting our communication style to fit the person we’re working with. When we get it right, the results can be transformative. For instance, I once worked with a very visual Executive who struggled with long meetings and verbal explanations. By switching to concise emails with visual aids, our communication became so much smoother, and the frustration just melted away.
That’s the magic of understanding diverse communication styles—it’s not just about getting your message across but doing it in a way that resonates with the person you’re communicating with.
To take this a step further, we can look at Dale Carnegie’s four communication categories: expressor, driver, amiable, and analytical. These give us even more insight into the people we work with every day:
When we take the time to understand and adapt to these styles, it makes our work—not to mention our relationships—so much stronger. It’s all part of what makes us effective in our roles.
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