According to the Harvard Business Review, nearly two-thirds of managers are uncomfortable communicating with their employees—which can have a negative effect on productivity and efficiency. Fortunately, new research shows that most teams fall into four communication styles. In business as in relationships, effective communication is crucial to success.
Developing and maintaining good team communication is the responsibility of team members and leaders alike, but it’s a challenge that compounds as the world becomes increasingly multicultural and multilingual.
For these reasons and others, language learning programs like Babbel for Business will offer more benefits to aid team communication, no matter the predominant style.
Table of Contents
- What Are the 4 Communication Styles?
- How Language Learning Supports the Different Communication Styles of Your Team
- The Role of Language Learning in Communication Styles
- Language Learning: The Ultimate Team Communication Training Tool
Improve Internal Communication to Reduce Language Barriers
Lead your multilingual team to success with better internal communication strategies and discover how Babbel for Business can improve language barriers across your organization in our new eBook.
What Are the 4 Communication Styles?
1. Passive Communication
This style is characterized by a reluctance to express thoughts, feelings, or needs. Individuals using this style often avoid confrontation, leading to a lack of clarity in their communication. They may agree to things they disagree with or fail to express their opinions, often out of fear of conflict.
The consequences of passive communication can be significant, including feelings of frustration, resentment, and a lack of fulfillment in relationships. Over time, this style can lead to increased stress and anxiety, as unexpressed feelings build up and contribute to emotional exhaustion.
To overcome passive communication, individuals can start by practicing self-assertion in low-stakes situations. Using “I” statements can help articulate feelings and needs without fear of confrontation. Additionally, setting personal boundaries and gradually expressing opinions in safe environments can build confidence over time.
2. Aggressive Communication
Aggressive communication is characterized by a forceful and confrontational approach, often disregarding the feelings and rights of others. Individuals using this style may raise their voices, use harsh language, or employ body language that conveys hostility. This style is often rooted in a desire to dominate or control conversations.
Aggressive communication can lead to conflict, resentment, and damaged relationships. It creates a hostile environment that discourages open dialogue and collaboration, often resulting in misunderstandings and a breakdown of trust. While it may achieve short-term goals, the long-term consequences can be detrimental.
Recognizing aggressive communication involves observing verbal and non-verbal cues, such as raised voices or dismissive gestures. To manage this style, individuals can practice self-awareness and emotional regulation. Techniques like taking deep breaths, pausing before responding, and reframing statements to be more constructive can help mitigate aggressive tendencies.
3. Passive-Aggressive Communication
Passive-aggressive communication is a style where individuals express their anger or frustration indirectly, often through sarcasm, procrastination, or subtle sabotage. This style can be confusing, as it masks true feelings behind a façade of compliance or friendliness.
Common signs of passive-aggressive behavior include backhanded compliments, silent treatment, and vague responses that imply dissatisfaction without direct confrontation. Individuals may appear agreeable while harboring resentment, leading to tension and misunderstandings.
To address passive-aggressive communication, individuals can focus on promoting directness and clarity in their interactions. Encouraging open dialogue about feelings and frustrations can help alleviate underlying tensions. Techniques such as journaling feelings before discussing them can also promote honesty and clarity in communication.
4. Assertive Communication
Assertive communication is a style where individuals express their thoughts, feelings, and needs openly and honestly while respecting others. Characteristics of assertive communicators include clarity, confidence, and a willingness to listen. They use “I” statements to take ownership of their feelings, such as “I feel frustrated when meetings start late,” which encourages constructive dialogue.
This communication style fosters healthy relationships, reduces misunderstandings, and enhances self-esteem. Assertive communicators are often more respected by peers and colleagues, as they are seen as confident and fair. Moreover, this style promotes collaboration and problem-solving, as it encourages open discussions.
An assertive communicator might say, “I would like to discuss my workload, as I feel overwhelmed with my current tasks,” rather than remaining silent or complaining passively. This approach not only addresses their concerns but invites collaboration to find a solution.
How Language Learning Supports the Different Communication Styles of Your Team
On a business level, your team has more communication styles than just the four typical ones. These include:
- Analytical Communication
- Intuitive Communication
- Functional Communication
- Personal Communication
Let’s discuss them in more detail.
1. Analytical Communication
According to researcher and author Mark Murphy, an analytical communication style is typified by a preference for data and objectivity. Analytical communicators prefer to see facts and figures to make decisions, which can be a challenge for teammates and team leaders who communicate more emotionally or intuitively.
While approaching these team members using facts and data is usually the best way to proceed, this can be difficult when team leaders don’t share the same native language. To bridge this gap, language learning can be a great tool—particularly because studies show that it can boost analytic thinking skills in the language being acquired. While this is undoubtedly helpful for employees, team leaders also benefit when everyone on a given team shares a common language.
2. Intuitive Communication
Unlike analytical communication, intuitive communicators are less detail-oriented and more focused on the big picture. Rather than looking at every tiny detail, they want a general idea of what needs to be accomplished and need room to solve problems on their own. Perhaps more than any other type, language learning can boost these team members’ strengths while padding out their weaknesses.
To communicate successfully with intuitive communicators, team leaders must be able to express a rich sense of purpose in the work, which may mean jumping between many topics to show their connections. Bilingual speakers have an advantage here as well since, according to research, language learning has creativity-boosting effects and enables learners to make connections between disparate topics more easily. For big-picture thinkers, these skills are invaluable—and to communicate with those people effectively, team leaders must also use those same skills.
3. Functional Communication
Team members with a functional communication style are active listeners who focus on the process more than anything else. They are attentive to steps, processes, and systems, though they may still be less attentive to very specific details—in this way, they are somewhat of a blend between the intuitive and analytical styles.
Successfully managing these team members requires active listening, particularly when they offer criticism of the process — and again, language learning sets a foundation for these kinds of situations. As a study published in Cognition showed, bilingual speakers have an enhanced ability to focus on and process complex information in high-conflict situations, particularly when compared to monolingual speakers.
4. Personal Communication
Finally, a personal communication style is one that values interpersonal connections, emotions, and relationships above all else. These team members are often the glue within a team, holding everyone together and relating to everyone—but it also means they don’t respond as well to facts, statistics, and extreme detail.
Without a doubt, language learning can help create a better work environment for these team members. Learning another language automatically means learning another culture and developing intercultural fluency, but research shows that it can also increase cognitive empathy, a huge boon for any team leader looking to connect with their employees.
The Role of Language Learning in Communication Styles
Cultural Awareness
Understanding cultural nuances in communication is essential for effective interaction. Each culture has its own set of communication norms, including gestures, tone, and context. Language learning immerses individuals in these cultural subtleties, fostering a deeper understanding of how different societies express themselves. For instance, a learner studying Japanese will discover the significance of indirect communication and non-verbal cues, which can differ greatly from more direct styles prevalent in Western cultures.
Moreover, language learning cultivates empathy and adaptability. As learners navigate the complexities of a new language, they gain insights into the perspectives and values of others. This understanding enables them to communicate more effectively and respectfully, adapting their style to suit diverse audiences and contexts.
Vocabulary Expansion
A broader vocabulary enhances expressiveness, allowing individuals to articulate their thoughts and feelings more clearly. Language learning introduces learners to a variety of words and phrases that can enrich their communication style. For example, someone learning Spanish may acquire specific terms that convey emotions or actions more vividly than their native language might allow.
Additionally, specific language skills can improve assertiveness. For instance, mastering phrases that express opinions or requests confidently can empower learners to communicate their needs more effectively. This assertiveness not only strengthens personal relationships but also enhances professional interactions, making the individual a more effective communicator in various settings.
Active Listening Skills
Language learning serves as a powerful tool for developing active listening skills. In the process of learning a new language, individuals must focus intently on understanding spoken words, which enhances their overall listening abilities. This heightened awareness translates into better comprehension of verbal and non-verbal cues in any language, enriching interactions across all communication styles.
Active listening is crucial in all forms of communication, as it fosters trust and understanding. When individuals practice active listening, they demonstrate respect for the speaker and create a supportive environment for open dialogue. Language learners, through their practice, often become more attuned to the nuances of conversation, allowing them to respond thoughtfully and engage more meaningfully with others.
Confidence Building
Overcoming language barriers is a significant step toward boosting self-esteem. As learners navigate the challenges of speaking a new language, they develop resilience and problem-solving skills. Each successful interaction builds confidence, enabling them to express themselves more freely in both their native and learned languages.
Real-life examples abound of language learners gaining confidence in communication. For instance, a shy individual who struggles with public speaking may find that practicing a new language helps them articulate their thoughts more clearly, reducing anxiety. As they gain fluency, their newfound confidence spills over into other areas of their life, empowering them to engage more fully in conversations and assert their viewpoints.
Language Learning: The Ultimate Team Communication Training Tool
While how teams communicate is an endless area of discussion, these four types of communication styles highlight some of the most common tendencies—and for all four, language learning can offer great benefits to improve the process. As the business world grows more international and competitive, communication is more important than ever. With Babbel for Business, companies can build cohesion by having team leaders and members learn a new language together or at their own pace.
To learn more about language learning and how it can improve team communication across the board, visit our website and schedule a demo today.
Improve Internal Communication to Reduce Language Barriers
Lead your multilingual team to success with better internal communication strategies and discover how Babbel for Business can improve language barriers across your organization in our new eBook.
