Passive-aggressive communication seems passive on the surface but reveals a hidden resentment that comes through in subtle, indirect ways. You may recognize aggressive communication through phrases like:
Criticizes, intimidates, or threatens others. You can recognize an aggressive communicator with the following behaviors: In positions of authority, they may be more of a boss vs a leader. They issue commands and ask questions rudely while failing to listen to others. People who rely on this communication style in the workplace, at home, or among friends tend to dominate the conversation. You may recognize passive communication through phrases like:Īggressive communication takes things to the other side of the spectrum. You can recognize a passive communicator with the following behaviors: Failure to express thoughts and emotions often leads to miscommunication and built-up anger or resentment. People who speak in a passive manner have difficulty expressing themselves and tend to give in to others. But the four communication patterns that most people habitually use are: passive, aggressive, passive-aggressive, and assertive. It is possible to learn and practice different communication styles. These habits influence how we communicate. People develop verbal and nonverbal behavioral patterns that, over time, become pretty stable. Meaning, we have an intention when we speak, but our style, our patterns, and perceptions get in the way of the other person picking it up. Glaser explains that 9 out of 10 conversations miss the mark. In her book, Conversational Intelligence®, Judith E. This process leads to gaps in understanding what another person means. These habits affect the way others perceive and respond to us during interactions.Īt the same time, we also judge the habitual behaviors of others and fail to understand what they want to convey. Our communication habits often don’t reflect our dynamic thoughts and emotions, giving others the wrong impression of what we want to communicate. What we say doesn’t always align with what we mean. Our behavioral patterns become habitual over time, and may not match our evolving thoughts and emotions. The most important dimensions of human behavior are assertiveness and responsiveness. The way people behave toward one another is determined by their perceptions of each other. People form immediate impressions about others based on verbal and nonverbal behaviors. Over time, people develop relatively stable behavior patterns. The Social and Neuro Sciences, just to name two, have shown us: Science sheds light on exactly what happens during human interaction. Behavior Traits Influence Different Communication Styles When we get it right, it’s a game-changer. Meaningful connection is what life’s all about. We feel mutually understood, recognized, and respected. Then those magical moments happen when our interactions bring us closer to one another. Meanwhile, other interactions leave us confused and uncertain, like we missed the mark in trying to convey our thoughts and emotions in words. We say something that suddenly sends people running for the hills, hiding under their beds, or ready to start a fight. Effective communication style builds a strong, healthy family environment.Ĭonnection requires conversation, but as I’m sure we’ve all experienced, breakdowns in communication happen. Good communication skills and the ability to connect with others directly correlates with career success and job performance. People with meaningful connections live longer. Those who feel connected to others have lower rates of depression and anxiety. Stong, stable interpersonal connections have a positive impact on physical and mental health, while poor social connection has ill effects on well-being. Here are just a few reasons why we need to connect: Our communication styles have the power to build meaningful connections, a crucial aspect of success in any area of life.