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There is a stark difference between a Boss and a Leader.
The latter is an empathetic and intuitive communicator while the former isn’t.
As a Leadership Psychologist, during my Team Cohesive Workshops, I always encounter the problem of executives failing to communicate clearly.
They don’t try to understand their employees on a deeper level which leads to unmet professional goals, conflict at work, and issues related to employee safety and security.
Is there a way to avoid this? Can executives and managers communicate their life experiences and treat each other kindly? Can the hierarchy of roles be put aside to create an environment for growth and empathy?
Yes. This is possible by understanding the different factors affecting communication styles and strategies which we’ll cover in this blog post.
To hear about our Leadership Coaching, check out our services here.
Image quote: “A boss has the title, a leader has the people.” - Simon Sinek
Table of Contents
As a Psychologist and Executive Coach with three decades of experience, I’ve observed how significantly communication styles impact workplace dynamics.
The DISC model [1] developed by William Moulton Marston [2] is a great tool for understanding the communication style of individuals:
D - Dominance
I - Influence
S - Steadiness
C - Compliance
Let’s understand each in brief.
People with this communication style are straightforward and blunt communicators. They speak what’s on their mind often ignoring the impact of their words.
Individuals with this communication style have bubbly personalities and love to communicate. They can influence others because of their cheerful demeanor and optimistic personality.
Active and patient listening is a key trait of this communication style.
Individuals with this style of communicating have great social skills and knowledge and make long-lasting connections.
This communication style is characterized by abilities to think and speak analytically, keeping facts in mind.
Such kinds of individuals are methodological, and objective, and speak with caution. They seek accuracy and prioritize information over emotions.
Picture this: You’re a leader in your office.
All your employees respect you.
Your company’s hiring list is always full as people are eager to work under an exemplary leader like you.
Sounds good right?
You can make it happen by learning to communicate effectively with people who work with/for you.
Based on my research and experience, here are key factors that shape how we communicate:
1. Cultural Background: The environment an individual grows up in affects their communication style.
Some cultures promote openness, while some prefer a reserved attitude.
As a leader or working professional, you should have an overview of your employees’ cultural backgrounds to understand them better.
2. Past Experiences: Trauma, particularly mini-trauma such as having a fight with a spouse, moving out of your home, changing cities, etc. deeply impact communication patterns.
Being aware of your and your employees’ problems can help you become a well-respected leader.
3. Personality Types: Personality types as per the DISC model or Carl Jung’s model of introversion and extroversion, or mind health conditions such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), all affect the way individuals interact with each other.
Being aware of your own psychological state and that of your employees is crucial for a leader to lead better.
4. Organizational Culture: Let’s consider two companies.
Company A: Trusts and respects its employees, promotes diversity and their well-being.
Company B: Doesn’t give adequate time-off , hires only natives, doesn’t conduct weekly meetings.
What will happen?
Company B’s ROI will decline as employees will work to put food on their table and not consider it a personal project of value.
When you create a healthy organizational culture, your employees will feel safe which will directly impact your company’s growth.
5. Power Dynamics: Your employees must respect you but they mustn’t fear you.
Power-play is often a result of deep psychological wounds such as
It’s important to note that good people sometimes behave badly because they are hurting or unaware.
To lead better, you should address these issues so that they don’t get projected unfairly on the people around you.
Communication directly impacts the quality of your personal and professional relationships.
Drawing from my holistic coaching approach to leadership, you can improve your communication skills by following these proven strategies:
1. Understand Communication Styles: By mentally assessing the communication styles of your employees and yourself, you can leverage their strengths and understand them better.
2. Develop Emotional Awareness: As a leader or person in power, your emotional state affects your entire organization. Learn about how traumas may affect awareness, self-esteem, interpersonal interactions, impulsivity, and frustration tolerance.
Tip: Before entering any meeting, do a quick emotional check-in. Ask yourself: "What energy am I carrying?" or “Am I bringing something from my past pain into the room?”
Ensure you enter with optimism and a cheerful attitude. If needed, put a 5-minute reminder on your phone before a meeting.
3. Master Cross-cultural Communication: In a global company, cultural misunderstandings can cost millions.
Tip: Create a cultural brief for each major region your company operates in. Before an international meeting, review it quickly.
4. Practice The Pause: Rushed responses lead to miscommunication and strained relations.
Tip: Before responding in high-stakes situations, take an intentional 2-3 second pause.
I teach clients to use this brief moment to inhale deeply and organize their thoughts.
5. Create Connection Points: Leaders who seem unapproachable create communication barriers.
Tip: Schedule weekly no-agenda meetings with different levels of staff to ask about their well-being.
6. Seek Coaching: Seeking communication coaching can help you develop mindfulness by bringing your attention to the present moment.
My Communication Coaching and Workshops utilize tools from organizational psychology, meditation training, and cross-cultural psychology.
We help you and your team:
I've witnessed remarkable transformations through my communication coaching. Here's how organizations benefit:
Case Study: A CTO of a technology firm with 500+ employees approached me with specific challenges:
Consultation: Through our initial consultation, we identified:
Intervention: We implemented a 6-month communication coaching program focusing on:
1. Leadership Communication Style Adaptation
2. Team Dynamics Enhancement
3. Stress Management Integration
Outcomes:
Our comprehensive approach helps leaders not just communicate better, but transform their leadership presence and organizational impact.
Different styles of communication in the workplace and the way they merge affect a company’s growth.
Great leaders work on themselves to heal their trauma and communicate with empathy with their employees.
By doing so, they not only ensure the psychological safety of employees and a higher ROI for the company but also, personal well-being and increased contentment with life.
Building compassion and being self-aware are the keys to leading better.
To enquire about our Communication or Leadership Coaching programs, click here.
Image quote: “A leader is best when people barely know he exists, when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: we did it ourselves. “ - Lao Tzu
There are four communication styles according to the Disc Communication Style model: Dominant, Influential, Steady, and Compliant.
Communication coaching helps organizations to enhance leadership presence, improve team dynamics, and increase ROI and productivity.
The 5 key factors that affect communication include cultural background, past traumas, personality types, organizational culture, and power dynamics.
You can improve communication with your team by understanding your team’s style of communication, developing emotional awareness, mastering cross-cultural communication, and creating connection points through regular meetings.