An individual’s style of communication is a very important aspect of his or her social, economic and political life. It defines the type of personality one is as well as the kind of company they keep. In addition, communication style may dictate the kind of influence a person may bring to others. Besides, the style of communication identifies an individual’s power to convince in a business deal. It is clear that there isn’t any one perfect type of communication that all can conform to as different people identify themselves best with a particular type.
The communication styles are based two dimensions. They include: Dominance (a type in which an individual tends to be in control of a conversation) and Sociability (a type where one is inclined to pursue and appreciate relationships). From the dimensions of the communication, I find myself high sociability kind of a person with low dominance.
A framework for communication style classification known as The Sociability-Dominance Continuum Model is developed by combining the two dimensions of communication style as shown below
Figure 1: The Sociability-Dominance Continuum Model
Individuals that fall within Zone 2 exhibit their distinctive behavioral characteristics with greater intensity than those in Zone 1. Excess Zone may also be referred to as the “danger” zone. It is depicted by very high intensity and rigidity. A person may move to the Excess zone when they are not feeling well, under stress or feels threatened.
A low dominance person tends to be less insistent, willing to support, more cooperative and easily controlled. A high dominance type of an individual has more of a one-way type of speech, initiate demands, insistent and try to take charge of the conversation. As a manager, I may need to be of high dominance to my subjects to enhance productivity. On the other hand, I got to be of low dominance to the board members at particular points in order to achieve the