Free library · self-assessment · 2 minutes
How do you communicate, and how does the other person?
Most friction in project meetings isn't about the facts. It's two people with different styles talking past each other. Answer ten quick pairs, then use the table to adapt to whoever is across the table.
Your result
Answer the pairs
Your style appears here as you answer.
0 of 10 answered.
Everyone uses all four. This shows where you start from under pressure.
Adapting to the person across the table
| Style | Scales | What they're like | How to present to them | Often found as |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Driver | Tells · task-focused | Direct, fast, results first. Wants the bottom line and a decision. | Lead with the recommendation and the cost. Be brief. Give options, not essays. | Site manager under schedule pressure; a client project director |
| Expressive | Tells · people-focused | Energetic, big picture, persuasive, likes stories and ideas. | Paint the picture of the outcome. Let them talk. Confirm details in writing afterwards. | Business development lead; a CEO pitching a vision |
| Amiable | Asks · people-focused | Patient, cooperative, wants to know how it affects people. | Slow down. Ask before telling. Show who is affected and how they are supported. | Community consultation; a long-serving operator facing change |
| Analytical | Asks · task-focused | Precise, careful, wants evidence and process. | Bring the data, the method and the assumptions. Give time to review before deciding. | Regulator; a design reviewer; an asset manager |
- Communication style
- Your habitual way of interacting, described here on two scales: how much you tell versus ask (assertiveness), and how much you focus on tasks versus people (responsiveness).
References
- David Merrill and Roger Reid, Personal Styles and Effective Performance (1981): the original "social styles" research behind the two scales.
- This self-assessment is a short teaching tool written for this site, not a validated psychometric test.