| To: vocalist Date sent: Mon, 6 Dec 1999 11:15:21 -0500 Subject: OFF: Communication Send reply to: VOCALIST <vocalist>
Dear Friends, You may or may not have noticed my absence from the list for a substantial length of time. I'm not mad at anyone, I've just been very busy both at my day job and my several part-time jobs. Don't know about you folks but activities just seem to become increasingly frenetic toward the close of the year. I was even too busy to do the bass solos for the annual Messiah sing along I've been a part of for the last seven years having two other conflicting gigs on the same day.
My day job, for the premium corporate aircraft manufacturer of the world, recently afforded me an opportunity to attend some interesting training. One of the courses was entitled COMMUNICATIONS FOR MANAGERS. It was a real eye opener. It covered different personality types and how they communicate. Evidently, there are four types that we all exhibit in varying degrees, usually two of which that are stronger and two that are weaker. I learned that conflicts in communication are the result of conflicting communications styles. People's communications styles use a combination of Dominance, Influence, Steadiness and Conscientiousness.
Those in whom Dominance is strong tend to: Want immediate results Cause action Accept challenges Make quick decisions Question the status quo Take authority Manage trouble Solve problems
Those in whom Influence is strong tend to: Contact people Enjoy making favorable impressions Verbalize articulately Create a motivational environment Generate enthusiasm Entertain people View people and situations optimistically Participate in groups
Those in whom Steadiness is strong tend to: Perform in a consistent, predictable manner Demonstrate patience Develop specialized skills Desire to help others Show loyalty Be good listeners Calm excited people Create a stable, harmonious work environment
Those in whom Conscientiousness is strong tend to: Pay attention ot key directives and standards Concentrate on key details Think analytically, weighing pros and cons Be diplomatic with people Use subtle or indirect approaches to conflict Check for accuracy Analyze parformance critically Use a systematic approach to situations or activities
The interesting thing was that there was no "good" and "bad", there was just "different". We are each, after all, are the result of our genetics and circumstances, most of which we can do little about and each of which are unique. Classic patterns in communications styles are easy to spot when you know what to look for. Though it is possible to change to some degree, the patterns remain basically the same for each of us throughout our lives.
Vocalist, our conflicting styles for communicating and how often we misinterpretted others' intentions was the first thing that popped into my head as I listened to the instructor (a PHD in communications BTW).
Because there are different communications styles, there naturally will be conflicts in communication when opposites meet. In a group as diverse and large as Vocalist, conflict is inevitable, but I must say, it is handled with supreme civility - usually. Occasionally a rude, unrepentant and incorrigible individual may appear, but the fact is, they really can't help being like that if they are being honest. It's best to simply ignore them.
BTW, when I did my chart, one of the traits was almost maximum intensity, another fairly strong, one low- normal intensity and one very low. On a scale of 1 to 10 for each characteristic, with 5 being neutral, can you guess? You may be able to tell from my writing.
Oh, and as an interesting aside, over 80% of written communication is misinterpretted because of the lack of visual and audio cues, the worst being typed communication. Warmest regards, Les
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