Communication Tips for Different Personality Types

In December 2012 AAPS held two sessions of the workshop "Your Unique Leadership Style", one at Point Grey Campus and one at VGH.
Using the Insights Learning System which is based on Jungian personality theory, facilitator Shauna Grinke helped participants identify their own working and leadership preferences as well as observe preferences of others. Participants brainstormed their top Dos and Don’ts for communicating with their own personality type and the results are listed below.

Next time you are working in a group or are having trouble communicating with a colleague, consider what their personality type might be and try out these communication tips.

 

Personality Type: FIERY RED

Common Traits: Competitive, Demanding, Determined, Purposeful, Strong-willed

Communication Dos

Communication Don’ts

  • To the point
  • What’s the goal?
  • Purposeful brainstorming
  • Concise but contextual (why, what, how)
  • Action oriented
  • Business focused, save the socializing
  • Follow the agenda
  • Focus on the bottom line
  • Tell me when I need to slow down
  • Take time to listen
  • Be open to new ideas
  • Moderate tone
  • Bore us
  • Move too slowly
  • Tell us if it’s not useful
  • Take things personally — work isn’t personal
  • Tell me at the last minute
  • Come unfocused — don’t be vague
  • Don’t talk over people
  • Don’t forget to care
  • Don’t forget to need for details - inform

Personality Type: SUNSHINE YELLOW

Common Traits: Enthusiastic, Demonstrative, Dynamic, Persuasive, Sociable

Communication Dos

Communication Don’ts

  • Crack a joke
  • Smile and be happy
  • Ask me questions
  • Enthusiastic
  • Passionate
  • Positive reassurance
  • Communicate — don’t withhold information
  • Facial expression
  • Okay to go off topic
  • Involve and engage me
  • Be dynamic
  • Don’t bog down with details
  • Get over disappointment / dominate
  • Don’t fixate
  • Explain if misunderstandings occur
  • Don’t leave us out of the picture
  • Be pessimistic
  • Be curt

 

Personality Type: EARTH GREEN

Common Traits: Caring, Encouraging, Patient, Relaxed, Sharing

Communication Dos

Communication Don’ts

  • Why – the reason something need to be done (i.e. context, background, reason)
  • Advance notice / no surprises
  • Let me know if/how something will affect me and my colleagues
  • Allow for feedback / forum for discussion
  • Be respectful — tone of voice, listening
  • Be caring, attentive, genuine
  • No surprises
  • Tell me what to do/how to do it
  • Look over my shoulder/micromanage
  • Don’t be aggressive
  • Make rushed decisions
  • Disingenuous behavior
  • Don’t assume I’m a pushover or that I will always say yes or always take your side

Personality Type: Cool Blue

Common Traits: Cautious, Deliberate, Formal, Precise, Questioning

Communication Dos

Communication Don’ts

  • Be clear
  • Give time for reflection
  • Time to prepare
  • Provide detail in writing
  • Remain focused
  • Agenda before and summary after
  • Start with info and context
  • Ask lots of questions especially why’s
  • Lots of recaps— confirmation process
  • Have a Plan B — share alternatives/opinions
  • Supporting point with examples/anecdotes
  • Give me all the info – don’t withhold
  • Put us on the spot
  • Jump to conclusions
  • No meaningless thank you emails
  • Don’t cc the world
  • Get too emotive about plans in progress
  • Bash
  • Waste time
  • Waffle

 

Special thanks to all the AAPS members to who participated in the workshop.