What are Communication Styles?

The 7 Communication Styles are ways of communicating that fall under 3 Intelligence Categories of Act, Feel, and Think. Each style has its own characteristics that reveal your interactive style and preferences.

3 Intelligence Categories

Whether you have a bias for action, feeling, or thinking, each category has its own type of intelligence.

Act First

ACTION Intelligence

They tend to be either practical or innovative. Their first response is to move into action to accomplish their goals.

They often respond quickly and decisively with an instinctive awareness or practical intelligence.

Feel First

Emotional Intelligence

They tend to be relational. Their first response is through their feelings, which they reveal in their speech or behavior.

They often respond intuitively with their relational awareness and emotional intelligence.

Think First

Rational Intelligence

They use their head. Some think fast, while others spend time reasoning, researching, and thinking strategically.

They often respond rationally with their cognitive awareness or analytical intelligence.

The 7 Communication Styles

A Communication Style is a distinct way of communicating, with its own characteristics, under one of the three intelligence categories.

ACTION

Visionary Pioneer

Leading the Charge

Visionary Pioneers are bold and action-oriented, driving change with confidence and vision.

Innovative

Direct

High Standards

ACTION

Practical Builder

Getting it Done Right

Practical Builders are dependable and detail-focused, meeting real needs with practical action.

Practical

Diligent

Steady

Feeling

Inspirational Connector

Inspiring People and Possibility

Inspirational Connectors thrive on interaction, inspiring others with energy and warmth.

Persuasive

Inclusive

Inspiring

Feeling

Protective Empath

Caring From the Heart

Protective Empaths are sensitive and nurturing, showing emotional depth and care.

Perceptive

Empathetic

Passionate

Thinking

Operational Strategist

Directing the Plan

Operational Strategists are analytical and strategic, bringing structure and direction.

Organized

Efficient

Focused

Thinking

Resource Manager

Creating Abundance

Resource Managers are resourceful and responsible, ensuring quality in their work.

Financially Adept

Precise

Resourceful

Thinking

Inquisitive Thinker

Quest for Knowledge

Inquisitive Thinkers are reflective and thoughtful, providing insight and depth.

Intellectual

Inquisitive

Philosophical

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Communication IQ centers on the seven styles everyone speaks: Pioneer, Builder, Connector, Empath, Strategist, Manager, and Thinker.

Everyone speaks these with a different level of effectiveness and intensity.

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How do intelligence categories work?

All of us often go through each intelligence category rapidly and subconsciously. However, it’s helpful to understand the order in which this occurs. This is intelligence awareness: understanding how to recognize and switch across categories into the other person’s communication style.

For example, if your first intelligence is action-oriented and you want to communicate with someone whose first intelligence is thinking, you need to:

first stop and listen
then mirror their thinking words
before taking action

Is one Communication Style better than another?

No Communication Style is better than another. However, all have their strengths in certain scenarios and when looking for particular outcomes. The key question is, what is needed most in this particular moment? We often 'pull up' lower style out of instinct at work or in new situations — it just takes more energy.

Any Communication Style can be very effective in business and positions of authority. Each Communication Style simply leads differently.

Do the Communication Styles have weaknesses?

All Communication Styles have strong, positive characteristics and corresponding weaknesses. Each Style can have predictable and unproductive results when carried to an extreme or subjected to stress that becomes distress. Which is why we help you recognize the signals and get ahead of them.

Will the profile tell me who I am?

While the communication traits are fairly consistent as described by your top Communication IQ Styles, people are complex and change over time. Moreover, different environments, life experiences, and friendships will draw out different characteristics in a person.

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Here are the headlines:

Everyone speaks all 7 Communication Style to some degree of fluency. Although it may take more energy and intentionality to speak your lower styles.
There is no Communication Style that cannot relate to another. Although some may take a little more effort.
A Communication Style is not an identity or an excuse.We shouldn't use the Communication Styles to box people in, including ourselves.

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The Communication Styles Chart: Your styles in order of preference

Range: Your current ability to flex to other styles

Overall Intensity: Your drive to be heard

Success Communication Keys: to understand and motivate each style

Development: guidance for personal growth and range

Acceptance Level: how you view yourself

Interactice Style: working alone or in groups

Internal Control: disciplined vs. impulsive

Intrusion Level: handling interruptions and distractions

Projective Indicator: How much other's perceptions matter to you

Learning Preferences: Physical, Visual, or Auditory

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