First thing they must do, is understand that it’s essential to recognize and acknowledge their differences in approach. Open a dialogue where both individuals can express their perspectives in a neutral, non-judgmental environment. As a leader or mediator, highlight the importance of diverse communication styles and how they can complement one another in achieving shared goals. Encourage active listening and empathy, emphasizing that understanding each other’s preferences can lead to more effective collaboration. Introducing clear communication guidelines and creating opportunities for joint problem-solving can help bridge the gap and foster a more cohesive, productive relationship between the team members.

? Recognize when team members clash over communication styles and seek harmony to improve collaboration. ? Use team development activities to build understanding among members. ? Promote awareness of different perspectives and unique communication preferences. ? Identify potential blind spots in how each member communicates. ? Recognize that team members may express similar goals using different language. ? Incorporate team-building exercises to foster empathy and shared language. ? Build trust to encourage active listening and open-mindedness. ? Align team members for stronger cohesion and more productive collaboration.

When two team members clash over communication styles, it’s like they’re speaking different languages—one's on emails, the other’s on memes. To bridge the gap, become the translator! Help them understand each other’s style, set some middle ground , and encourage them to focus on the end goal: getting things done without throwing virtual punches. Clear expectations + a little humor = smoother collaboration!

When two team members are clashing over communication styles, I love to start with communication assessments, like DISC, to help each team member better understand their own style and the style of the team member with whom they have a conflict. Understanding another person's perspective and/or approach can create space for empathy and greater appreciation for the other's stregnths. Once, I've met with each team member individually to understand their perspective and to share their assessment results, I like to bring them together, share their styles, facilitate dialogue around what they've learned about the other and then shift to collaborative work/communication agreements.