The cautious communication style
Know the four communication styles (Direct, Enthusiastic, Supportive, Cautious), and adapt your message, because it’s not what you say, but how you say it.
Some people are slow, deliberate talkers. They think about what to say and articulate precisely without a lot of movement or strong body-language. You might call them reserved.
They prefer to get their head around a problem or task, as well as their role in it, before being comfortable sharing their thoughts. Some need to be seen as experts in their area.
They’re often quiet and introspective, while also being thorough, detail-oriented, and comprehensive in their work. They may seem anti-social, but are “just in their heads.”
They want to get it right the first time and are more comfortable closing their door and diving deep into a task than going to a networking event or sharing their thoughts without having first considered it. They think of all the angles.
In meetings, they may be put off when someone else hasn’t thought through issues as deeply as they have, or when an agenda isn’t provided in advance. They are more likely to want their webcams disabled.
They may be stressed by following inefficient procedures, dealing with illogical people, or showing a lot of emotions or emotional support.
Healthy conflict for them, looks like calling out problems, getting to the root of the issue, and giving people space to focus on the facts. When they’re not feeling safe, they may get defensive or passive-aggressive, become overly critical, or try to win with logic battles.
In the language of DiSC, these are “C” or Conscientious Style people.
Here’s how to deal with what I call cautious communicators.
When Trying to Connect
Talk to them about the objective, fact-based aspects of ideas and projects
Avoid pressuring them for an immediate decision
Expect skepticism
When Problems Need to Be Solved
Allow them time for careful analysis
Show appreciation for their logic
Don’t let them get bogged down in the details
When Things Get Tense
Support your opinions with logic and facts
Give them space to process the situation before confronting the issues
Avoid using forceful or emotional tactics
If you want to dive deeper into the four communication styles, check out this resource page on the 4 Communication Styles.
