Are you a transactional or informative communicator?
Understanding your communication style will go a long way to up leveling your leadership potential. This will help you start the new year strong. I’m going to share more insights of how to up level your leadership style as we head into the end of the year. So tell me, are you a transactional communicator or an informative communicator? Each one gives great insight into the amount of commitment you show to the situations around you. And it all depends on how you use each one of these styles.
A Transactional Communicator is Passive
As a transactional communicator, you have a willingness to share a certain level of information to get the work done. You may be working on a specific project for a supervisor or client. You’re fully aware that your responsibility is to just share information as it comes through to you. A transactional communicator knows their role and is perfectly fine with sharing the information requested. This is a form of passive communication.
An Informative Communicator is Active
If you are an informative communicator, then you will share the information requested. You are also willing to share additional insights that you feel might be valuable to make an informed decision. An informative communicator knows that their role is to collect information, interpret it, and share the best advice for finding an effective way forward. This person interprets information and gives valuable insights that could be helpful. This is a form of active communication.
To determine which communicator you are, ask yourself the following questions:
- Why did the client hire you for this specific project?
- Do they just need you to share data and statistics?
- Do they need you to interpret this data and give your professional opinion on how to move forward?
An Effective Communication Style
There’s nothing wrong with filling either role. You will find that the more you work towards up leveling your leadership style, the more you will transition towards being an informative communicator. If a supervisor or client asks you to show more leadership as you communicate, this is the first area you’ll want to adjust. Redefine what it means to add value. Then figure out a way to communicate that value at every opportunity.
Sharing your opinion and point of view can be intimidating if you’re not used to it. For more information on how to up level your communication style and illustrate how you add value as a leader, make sure to watch my YouTube video that goes deeper into the specifics of stepping into an informative communication style.
- Has a client or supervisor asked you to improve your communication skills if you want to be taken more seriously?
- Does this feedback leave you confused about how you show up as a professional?
In this video we’ll discuss the best way to level up and show your leadership skills simply by making one small change. I talk about the differences between being a transactional (passive) communicator and being an informative (active) communicator.
Christina Holloway is an executive coach and business coach. She helps executives and entrepreneurs grow their companies faster, create results-driven teams, and increase profitability. She has been featured in Forbes, The Huffington Post, Addicted2Success and Fast Company. If you’re interested in working with Christina, take a look at her strategy sessions and contact her to get started.