You’re working with a team member who has a different communication style. How can you bridge the gap?

Identifying your own communication style is the foundation for understanding others. Explore dimensions like assertiveness, passiveness, aggression, and passive-aggressiveness. Are you direct and confident, or more indirect and avoidant? Understanding your style sets the stage for effective communication.

Understanding your own communication style involves recognizing how you express yourself and interact with others. It's about being aware of whether you tend to be assertive, passive, aggressive, or passive-aggressive in your communication approach. Are you direct and confident when expressing your opinions, or do you often avoid confrontation and prefer to stay silent? Reflecting on your tendencies helps you navigate interactions more effectively, leveraging your strengths while acknowledging areas for improvement. It's a journey of self-awareness that ultimately enhances your ability to connect with others authentically and respectfully.

Establishing your communication style with your team is essential. Demonstrating the elements of emotional intelligence in how you communicate will set you aside from your peers. This includes the use of the medium for communicating your messages as well ensure things like empathy and listening are included especially where non-verbal gestures and cues are not possible.

Once you've nailed down your own communication style, focus into understanding your team member's style as well. Observe their tone, gestures, eye contact and engage in open conversations with them. Ask about their preferences, expectations, and challenges. Actively listen, be a listener, and seek clarification where necessary.

Flexibility is the key! Once you understand both your and your team member's communication styles, it's time for you to adapt. This isn't about changing who you are, but adjusting your approach with respect. If you're assertive and they're passive, be more supportive. If you're passive and they're aggressive, amp up your assertiveness. Adapting reduces conflicts, it creates a cooperative and collaborative environment.

Selecting the right communication tools is key to bridging gaps with team members who have varying styles. Tailoring your approach based on the message's complexity and urgency, as well as the recipient's preferences, ensures effective communication. For instance, opt for face-to-face meetings or video calls for nuanced discussions, enabling clearer expression of emotions and intentions. Conversely, utilize emails or chat for straightforward tasks to maintain efficiency and minimize distractions. By leveraging suitable tools, you enhance comprehension, minimize misunderstandings, and foster smoother collaboration within the team.

In addition to the aforementioned strategies, it's essential to cultivate empathy and patience when bridging communication gaps. Take the time to put yourself in your team member's shoes, understanding their background, preferences, and challenges they may face. By empathizing with their perspective, you can better tailor your approach to resonate with them, fostering a more inclusive and understanding work environment. Furthermore, patience is key as you navigate differences in communication styles. Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither is seamless collaboration. Embrace the journey of learning and growth together, celebrating small victories along the way.

A good approach is to set up a communication system and plan for any project with people on the team from the onset. When to expect emails, calls, meetings, or whatever, or how to approach people on the team when you need to communicate something immediately. That way people don't know exactly how they need to communicate, will save everyone time too.