Business people not only need to be business savvy; they also need to be people savvy. In fact, one of the major challenges faced by anyone in business is working with others. The key to working well with others is to understand that we each have a preferred communication style as well as our own behavioral style. And the better everyone communicates in a business setting, the more successful the company will be.
Chicago, IL (PRWEB) August 25, 2004 -- Business people not only need to be business savvy; they also need to be people savvy. In fact, one of the major challenges faced by anyone in business is working with others. The key to working well with others is to understand that we each have a preferred communication style as well as our own behavioral style. And the better everyone communicates in a business setting, the more successful the company will be.
Author and family business expert Laura Michaud states, We react to others based on our own communication and behavioral style, which is why we need to understand our own style as well as those of our co-workers and everyone else we interact with." In her book, From the Kitchen Table to the Conference Table: Family Business Communication (Cameo Publications, $17.95, ISBN 0-97441494-8), Michaud provides a Family Business Behavioral Style Assessment to help you determine your most prevalent behavioral style. She then explains what the different categories mean and how they impact family business.
The four behavioral styles Michaud identifies are the Driver, the Impeller, the Stabilizer, and the Careful One. On one end, people are either outgoing or reserved, and on the other end, they are either task oriented or people oriented. As she explains:
• Drivers urge the organization onward. They are confident natural born leaders motivated by challenge, power, and authority.
• Impellers move others to action. They are enthusiastic and motivated by social recognition and relationships.
• Stabilizers aim for stability. They are great listeners and great team players because theyre calm, patient, logical, and loyal.
• Careful Ones are conscientious, thorough, and painstaking in action or execution. They are detail-oriented and analytical.
Why is pinpointing a style so important? As Michaud explains, Communicating well enables you to understand your clients better and more efficiently serve their needs. You will also understand your co-workers better and be able to work together to achieve goals." In the end, when you know your communication style, as well as everyone elses in your business, your company will reap greater rewards, including improved relationships with clients and co-workers, and a company that runs more smoothly with increased profits.
As a third-generation owner of Beltone Electronics, Laura Michaud, MBA, learned first-hand the challenges and importance of communication in family business. After selling Beltone in 1997, she founded the Michaud Group consulting firm to share her experience and knowledge with other family businesses and help them overcome their communication challenges.
For more family business communication strategies, information about Laura Michaud, or a review copy of From the Kitchen Table to the Conference Table: Family Business Communication, please call 1-866-372-2636 or send an email to Amy@cameopublications.com.
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