If there’s one thing that we do a whole lot of, it’s communicate. From moving our mouth pieces to form sounds, to the incessant tapping of our thumbs to send messages to loved ones, or even the bombastic side eye that you throw at some select few lucky individuals.
With so much of our lives filled with moments of connection and communication with those around us, it would make sense that we should try and be the best communicators that we can be. One way to do so, would be to try and make sense of the different ways people communicate, and in particular, how you communicate as well. The more we know, the better we would be able to adapt and thrive with those around us.
I’ve always been a bit of a superhero fan boy, and I’ve always wanted to embody one of those caped crusaders (or if you’re of the Edna Mole persuasion, then no capes!). In many ways, being able to communicate well is a superpower on its own, so hey, why not blend the two together to see what we can come up with! So here we go!
The Thunder GodThese are the individuals who are almost always at the forefront, leading the way into any great conversation or discussion. Assertive and commanding, they are the one’s who would almost always have their hands up first to answer any question put to them, or offer an opinion to any subject. They might not always have the best, or right answers in some cases, but you can trust that they’ll be right there plodding away to the best of their ability.
If you’re communicating with a Thunder God type, you might find that you’ll be on the receiving end, rather than be the one who’s speaking a lot. But stand your ground, and take your turn speaking, they’ll come around eventually.
The ArcherAn individual of few words usually, they tend to prefer hanging back and keeping a keen eye and ear on everything that goes on around them before offering what is oftentimes nuggets of wisdom. They pride themselves on efficiency and directness over anything else, avoiding the use of fillers or fluff. When they speak, you just know that it’s going to be something pretty profound.
Speaking with an Archer? Remember, that less is more! Take your time and think about what you have to share, as Archer’s tend to want to communicate as efficiently as possible. Less of the small talk, and more of the facts and figures please!
The SpideyOftentimes the life of the party, if you sat back and let them go ahead, they’d probably have an entire conversation by themselves. You could call them the life of any party, and you’re almost always having a good time when they’re around. They can jump on any topic, and even when they have absolutely no clue about what you’re talking about, they’ll still carry a conversation. All this energy has a purpose, and they’re oftentimes the ones who would be able to talk their way out of any conundrum, and generate ideas to solve most problems.
It’s not uncommon to get completely swept away when dealing with a Spidey. In many cases, it might be better to just point them in the right direction, hold on and enjoy the ride! Just know that when it’s crunch time, they’ll have your backs and they’d probably remind you of it as well.
These are just some communication styles that people have, but it’s definitely not an exhaustive list! If you’re keen on figuring out your own communication style, head on over to Communication Styles: A Self-Assessment Exercise and find out!
