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<\/p>\nOnly a few years ago, no one would have ever imagined that the word \u201cmeeting\u201d would become so synonymous with \u201cstaring at your computer screen\u201d at a Brady Bunch-like array of other people\u2014colleagues, clients, vendors, family, or friends\u2014staring right back at you. But that\u2019s the reality today and, for better or worse, these last two pandemic-ridden years have transformed our computers into modern-day conference rooms.<\/p>\n
For years, experts have waxed poetic on the virtues and pitfalls of different communication styles in the workplace, with a focus on how these play out\u2014for the good, the bad, and the ugly\u2014in meetings. And while many of the dynamics of in-person meetings have naturally carried over into the virtual world, some new habits have emerged that are making it harder for teams to stay productive and engaged during calls.<\/p>\n
But before diving into this, let\u2019s first take a look at the primary communication styles that dominate the workplace today to better understand the key drivers of those new habits.<\/p>\n
No two people are the same. So it\u2019s only natural that how people communicate\u2014whether verbally, non-verbally, or in written form\u2014can vary quite a bit as well. Even so, it has been found that people typically fall into one of four primary workplace communication styles:<\/p>\n
These are the so-called \u201cwallflowers\u201d or quiet people on your team. They rarely speak up, don\u2019t often take a strong stance on team-related issues, avoid confrontation at all costs, and do a poor job of openly expressing their needs or feelings. And most of all, they hate being put in the spotlight. People who exhibit poor eye contact and willingly go with the flow, whether or not it\u2019s in their best interest, fall into this camp.<\/p>\n
These people embody a \u201cbull in a china shop\u201d mentality. They tend to have strong opinions, be set in their ways and views (to the point of ignoring other people\u2019s perspectives), frequently interrupt when others are speaking, and can embody a reactionary or confrontational tone. Because these people are quite outspoken, they typically command a strong presence\u2014but not always for the right reasons.<\/p>\n
According to Indeed, \u201cPassive-aggressive communicators appear passive on the surface but often have more aggressive motivations driving their actions\u2026[and] can quietly manipulate a situation into one that benefits them.\u201d They are akin to a wolf in sheep\u2019s clothing who make others feel as though they are secretly trying to undermine everyone\u2019s efforts. As you can imagine, this makes collaboration quite difficult.<\/p>\n
In the workplace, the assertive communication style is the dream. These people know how to support their views and perspectives clearly, advocating for how to achieve their goals. Unlike other communication styles, they approach every situation in a polite and respectful manner. However, they are aware of their own limits and know when to say \u201cno,\u201d if that response is warranted, but not in an aggressive or confrontational way. As such, these people tend to be great collaborators who make others feel comfortable.<\/p>\n
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Once the novelty of non-stop online meetings wore off, people soon realized that their devices could give them a \u201cget out of jail free\u201d card for exhibiting behaviors during meetings that would otherwise not be possible in an analog (aka, in-person) meeting environment.<\/p>\n
Part of this includes what The Digital Workplace has identified 10 new communications styles\u2014from the \u201cover communicator\u201d to the \u201cemoji monarch\u201d\u2014that have become a common thread in today\u2019s digital-first world. But there are a few more communication habits worth adding to that list that we\u2019ve also seen crop up quite a bit as the world has worked remotely:<\/p>\n
Online conferencing apps make it really easy to know who\u2019s on mute during a call. While some people do this to avoid noise and other distractions happening in the background from disrupting the call, there are others who use it as a protective shield\u2014and an excuse for not actively participating in the discussion. Whether they are actually paying attention to what\u2019s being said is anyone\u2019s guess.<\/p>\n
Admittedly, we all have moments when we just don\u2019t feel camera-ready or when our surrounding environment isn\u2019t necessarily work-appropriate. The problem here is that when you can\u2019t see others on a call, you have no idea whether or not they are engaged in the discussion. Much like the mute button, a blank screen is an easy way to show that you\u2019re \u201cpresent\u201d without always really being present.<\/p>\n
Even if you show your beautiful face on-screen and use your mute button sparingly, it doesn\u2019t mean there aren\u2019t about 100 other things distracting you from the conversation at hand. And there\u2019s nothing worse than when, all of a sudden, you hear your name called out\u2014but you didn\u2019t actually hear the question. So, you coyly blame a \u201cbad connection\u201d and ask whoever asked the question to repeat themselves again.<\/p>\n
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Some people have accepted the reality that working from home is here to stay, so much that they don\u2019t even bother trying to be presentable anymore. These are the bold ones who are unafraid to leave their camera on for everyone to see their various states of disarray, including hopping on the line with disheveled hair and \u201cPJ chic\u201d fashion. They remind us that \u201cthe show must go on\u201d in spite of all the odds.<\/p>\n
Managing the dynamics of different communication styles at the workplace can be tough. And these dynamics can be even more challenging to whip into shape when communicating primarily via a digital means. The key is understanding the new communication behaviors that have emerged in today\u2019s virtual world. Once you understand these habits, you will be better prepared to help your team stay focused on the conversation at hand to create a more productive and effective online meeting experience.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Only a few years ago, no one would have ever imagined that the word \u201cmeeting\u201d would become so synonymous with \u201cstaring at your computer screen\u201d at a Brady Bunch-like array of other people\u2014colleagues, clients, vendors, family, or friends\u2014staring right back at you. But that\u2019s the reality today and, for better or worse, these last two […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":62,"featured_media":9219,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"two_page_speed":[]},"categories":[314,57],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n