“Rhetoric is the art of ruling the minds of men ” – Plato

Getting people to work for you or for your goal is not an easy task. Influencing skills are vital for leaders and mentors; and bear in mind that getting someone on your side it’s a process that takes dedication, an inspiring goal, a clear path and good communication.

Communication is key: it’s the fastest way to reach the right people, influence the right crowds and in order to do that, you must understand your own communication style. Then, understand that everyone else has their own style, hence certain communication styles will resonate better with certain people. And that’s because, the more we listen to something that matches our own style, the easier it is to spread information and get our message across.

There are many communication styles, but today we are going to arrange them all in four main communication styles and next time you want to influence a crowd or a person, think of how you could use this in your favour.

Direct – People with a direct communication style tend to be impatient and action-oriented. They focus on result and would skip the details to get to the point. They tend to be quick decision makers, realistic and organised. Those with a direct communication style are time-conscious, speak fast, they are pragmatic and like to be in control of the situation.

Enthusiastic – These people are quite vocal, they use inspiring language, they generate excitement and possibility when they talk. They are natural salesmen, they love talking about new ideas and they gesticulate a lot. Quickly bored with details, they get excited about the big picture, love spontaneity and creativity – often seen as visionaries.

Accommodating –  They are the best listeners and they enjoy supporting others. They build trust by creating connections and relationships, and because of that they tend to use their personal filter to interpret everything they hear. They are sensitive to other’s feelings, so it is very important to be mindful of their feelings when sending a message.

Precise – They speak with calm and precision, in a purposeful way. These are the ones who have a very thoughtful speech and they like others to be systematic, punctual and organised. They are analytical and find it hard to trust those who are unorganised and / or impulsive.

In order to choose the best approach, you must understand other people’s communication style, then learn how to use that style in a genuine way, keeping your focus on the end goal – influencing others to support your cause (whatever that may be).

Once you chose the style that works well, be aware of the challenges each style has.

Direct

• They tend to focus on results not feelings
• They are often in a hurry
• They are quick to dismiss ideas they do not agree with
• They can be poor listeners

Enthusiastic

• They talk more than they listen
• They exaggerate their ability to gain support
• They consider details unimportant
• They try to talk you into more risk than you believe it’s necessary

Accommodating

• They are afraid of change (especially when it’s comfortable)
• They back down quickly when they face resistance or conflict
• They tend to trust only the ones they know
• They can be overly concerned with other’s feelings

Precise

• They are highly risk averse
• They require a lot of details
• They are slow decision makers
• They are hesitant in supporting new ideas

There is no right or wrong communication style, just styles that work better and styles that don’t. Whichever you decide to choose, stay away from the challenges each style shows; remember to add kindness and authenticity to your style if you want to influence the right audience.

“Communication is a skill that you can learn. It’s like riding a bicycle or typing. If you’re willing to work at it, you can rapidly improve the quality of every part of your life.” Brian Tracy