Identifying your natural communication style – and those of others – can help you become a better leader, says Linda Hall, an executive development coach who led the 2009 IWMF Leadership Institute for Women Journalists in the United States. She says using the Personal Coaching Styles Inventory (PSCI) can help you master communications skills. Journalists who attended the institute explain how they fit into each of the four communication styles identified in the PSCI.

"In our fast paced world, it is crucial that you have the most effective means for building rapport and connecting with others," says executive and organizational development coach Linda Hall. "The mastery of communications skills in a much more sophisticated and knowledgeable way is critical to bringing about the results we desire in our world, both personally and professionally."

Hall, who has coached both non-profit and corporate clients, led the 2009 IWMF Leadership Institute for Women Journalists in the United States. She says the Personal Coaching Styles Inventory (PSCI) is a good starting place for anyone who wants to determine their natural communication style. Understanding these natural preferences, says Hall, will help leaders interact well with others. 

 
"The PSCI is a vehicle to open potential gaps for personal growth for leaders so you can understand yourself and your needs, as well as the needs of others, in a new light," she says. "As you study the four styles and understand that there are variations of each, you will learn to interact, coach and consult with others in a way that is more effective for you – and for them. "

Still, the PSCI is not a magic bullet. Just because you know how you prefer to communicate, doesn’t mean that those on your team prefer the same style. “Each person will have to spend time really studying how the people they are communicating with behave. ... When working in a team environment, it is very helpful to have everyone take the self- assessment and share the results as a group so that less guessing is involved,” says Hall.

Don’t make the mistake of stereotyping people whose style preferences don’t match yours, she warns. “While this tool can help you see the big preferences someone has, we are all a mixture of all four styles,” says Hall. “There are other factors that come into play in the complex ‘game’ of communication: motivation, situation and other factors.”

2009 Leadership Institute Participants Talk About the Four Communication Styles

Take the PSCI inventory for $20 at www.coachingwell.com.

Kathleen Currie is the deputy director of the IWMF.