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Whats Your Communication Style

The document describes different communication styles using birds as metaphors. It provides descriptions of four styles: Eagle, Peacock, Dove and Owl. For each style it explains characteristics, strengths and weaknesses, and how best to interact with those of that style.

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Isam Mrah
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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
406 views7 pages

Whats Your Communication Style

The document describes different communication styles using birds as metaphors. It provides descriptions of four styles: Eagle, Peacock, Dove and Owl. For each style it explains characteristics, strengths and weaknesses, and how best to interact with those of that style.

Uploaded by

Isam Mrah
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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WHAT’S YOUR

COMMUNICATION STYLE?
Below are ten horizontal lines with words on each line, one in each column.

In each line, put the number ‘4’ next to the word that best describes you in that line, a ‘3’
next to the word that describes you the best, a ‘2’ to the next best word and a ‘1’ next to
the word that least describes you.

On each line you will have a ‘4’, ‘3’, ‘2’ and ‘1’. For example

COLUMN 1 COLUMN 1 COLUMN 1 COLUMN 1

a 3 Confident 4 Enthusiastic 1 Calm 2 Careful

COLUMN 1 COLUMN 1 COLUMN 1 COLUMN 1

a Confident Enthusiastic Calm Careful

b Takes Charge Takes Risks Loyal Accurate

c Determined Visionary Conservative Consistent

d Impatient Very Talkative Enjoys Routine Predictable

Dislikes
e Competitive Self-Promoter Practical
Change
Enjoys
f Egotistical Passive Factual
Popularity
Avoids
g Decisive Carefree Systematic
Confrontation

h Unbending Likes Variety Supportive Perfectionist

Detail
i Doer Spontaneous Nurturing
Oriented

j Independent Inspirational Peacemaker Analytical

TOTAL TOTAL TOTAL TOTAL


COLUMN 1 COLUMN 2 COLUMN 3 COLUMN 4

TOTAL UP THE NUMBERS FOR EACH COLUMN


WHAT DOES THIS ALL MEAN?

Now that you’ve taken the survey, what picture of your natural inclinations, strengths
does it all mean. Each column represents a and weaknesses, and how you will naturally
particular communication style. The column respond in most situations.
with the highest score is your dominant
communication style, while the column with We have used birds to describe each
your second highest number is your sub- communication style. These are: Eagle,
dominant style. While you are a combination Peacock, Dove and Owl. The following
of all four communication styles, the two descriptions will help you understand your
types with the highest scores reveal a style and how you can interact with others.

Fast paced, Extrovert, External

Column 1 Column 2
Score Score

EAGLE PEACOCK
(THE DIRECTOR) (THE SOCIALISER)
Focus on actions Focus on people
“I want it done right and “Let me tell you what
i want it done now.” happened to me.”
Task focus People focus
Thinking Feeling
Head Heart

Column 4 Column 3

OWL DOVE
(THE THINKER) (THE RELATOR)
Focus on facts Focus on trust
“Can you provide me the “We are all in this together, so let’s
documentation of your claim.” work together as a team.”

Slow paced, Introvert, Internal


Score Score
COLUMN 1
EAGLE (THE DIRECTOR)
The Eagle is easy to spot because
they just want to get the job done. How would you interact with an
Get to the point, get results. Eagle in an interview?
Because of this, they can be
perceived as bossy and insensitive.
Extremely goal oriented, their
major motivation is to get things
done. They are also driven by
recognition, and significance.

The Eagle paints with a broad


brush and has little use for
details, so when communicating
with an Eagle, keep the verbal
communication short and don’t
give them any more details than
are absolutely necessary to get
your point across. They don’t
like to acquire information. When
information is needed, keep your
verbal explanation short, then
provide a detailed explanation
through a non-verbal medium
(email, paper, memo etc)

Their facial features are usually


sharp, and they like to dress and
maintain a ‘clean cut’ appearance.
Eagles are comfortable in an
environment that includes power
and authority, freedom from
supervision and working with a
variety of activities. They also
have trouble identifying with the
team, and lack understanding
of how powerful people working
together can be.

"I want it done right, and I want


it done now!"
COLUMN 2
PEACOCK (THE SOCIALISER)
You know the Peacock ... they’re
the life of the party and lots of How would you interact with a
fun. They love people and love to Peacock in an interview?
talk. Their natural sociability allows
them to talk for long periods
of time about almost anything.
They harbor the most volatile
personality. Always interested in
making a favourable impression
on friends, co-workers and clients
- their biggest fear and anger
trigger is to lose face.

Peacocks are outgoing, exuberant


and innovative. Outgoing and
creative personalities have a
difficult time doing bland tasks
whether they are verbally or non-
verbally communicated. Use a
lot of examples, demonstrations
and visual aids to effectively
communicate and creative
personalities. A creative mind
will remember information by
association.

Since they always see the best in


people, Peacocks can have trouble
making objective evaluations
of people and situations. They
don’t like a lot of details and can
appear a little disorganised. But
we all benefit from people like
them, who encourage us to open
up and communicate. A Peacock
contributes to a creative, outgoing
and positive working environment.

"LET ME TELL YOU WHAT HAPPENED


TO ME."
COLUMN 3
DOVE (THE RELATOR)
The person with a Dove
communication style typically How would you interact with an
has a low key personality and is Dove in an interview?
calm, cool and collected. They
tend to be patient, well balanced
and happily reconciled with life.
Doves are the largest percentage
of the population and they are
typically competent and steady
workers who do not like to be
involved in conflict. When there is
conflict they may be called upon
to mediate the problem. They are
good listeners and usually have
many friends. One of their major
motivations is to avoid offending
anyone.

Doves facial features are usually


soft, and they like to dress in
whatever is the most comfortable
for them. Usually quiet, they are
also extremely good listeners, thus
sometimes providing some great
ideas - but never wanting to make
a decision.

Gentle, patient, understanding


- they are part of the glue that
keeps a team working together.

"we are all in this together, so


let's work together as a team."
COLUMN 4
OWL (THE THINKER)
An Owl’s life is made of facts. They
love to gather details and organise How would you interact with a Owl
things. Because their communication in an interview?
style includes a need for details,
they sometimes hesitate to make
decisions if they feel that they don’t
have enough facts. They love lists,
charts, graphs and figures. They
also have a habit of pointing out
everything that can go wrong - but
it’s good to have Owls because they
can see potential problems. An Owl
needs to work with people who can
help him or her see the big picture.
A funny fact about owls - even while
engaged in a simple thought process,
they can appear to be ‘mad’ as their
faces become stern. Don’t worry,
they are not mad at you - but simply
thinking hard.

Owls like to finish everything they


start. Their daily routine rarely
changes; in fact, an Owl doesn’t
handle sudden changes well at all. But
their love of routine can slow things
down in an environment that requires
quick decisions and action - an
airplane cockpit being one of them.

Very diplomatic with people, they


use a critical approach to analysing
performance and don’t take criticism
personally. Sit down with a person
who is detail-oriented and spend
time verbally going over every
task, expectation and purpose.
Allow for questions between each
instruction because detail-oriented "Can you provide me the
personality types will typically ask
a lot of questions to ensure they documentation of your claim?"
accurately understand what is being
communicated.
QUALITIES & CHARACTERISTICS
OF EACH BIRDS
How do you relate to your fellow birds, while caged in the same cockpit for a day or more?
The model’s rule of thumb indicates that we most often have a primary and secondary
communication style.

Although emotional intelligence might be called the ‘foundation’ of any team or individual
- communication is an essential part in the potential for success or failure. For a team or
individual to achieve their goal, interaction will always be present. Be it in communicating with
team members or stakeholders, a skilled person will remove the risk for misunderstanding of
goals or needs, thus reducing the margin of error which could introduce safety problems or the
inability to complete the mission down the line.

FACTS PEACOCK EAGLE DOVE OWL


Like positive Want a lot of data,
Like their own way;
attention, need be ask many questions.
How to recognise Get excited decisive & strong
helpful & regarded Methodical &
viewpoint
warmly systematic
Who? What? Why? How?
Tends to Ask (the personal (the results (the personal (the technical
dominant question) oriented question) non-goal question) analytical question)
Rejection,
Boring explanation. Wasting time Making an error,
impersonal
What they dislike Wasting time with debating rather being unprepared
treatment,
too many facts than acting and spontaneity
uncaring attitudes
Becoming silent,
Reacts to pressure ‘Selling’ their Taking charge Seeking more data
withdraws,
and tension by ideas, arguments taking more control & information
introspective

Best way to Get excited with Let them be in Be supportive; Provide lots of
deal with them. Show emotion charge show you care data & information

Likes to be Applause, feedback, Results, Goal Friend, close Activity that leads
measured by recognition orientated relationships to results

Get into a Make decisions


Must be Get ahead quickly. competitive Relax, feel, care, at own pace,
allowed to Likes challenges situation. know you care not cornered or
Likes to win pressured

A position
Recognition & some A structure of goals Interpersonal &
that requires
Will improve with structure with which & methods for communication
cooperation with
to reach the goal achieving each goal skills
others
Relationship & Mistakes
Face Time
Friendship They hate to make
They will do or say They like to be
Likes to save means a lot an error, be wrong or
anything to come efficient, get things
to them get caught without
out looking good done now
enough info
Inspire them to Allow them freedom Care & provide Structure a
For best results bigger & better to do things their detail specific plans framework or
accomplishments own way to be completed ‘track’ to follow

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