Do You Know What I Mean?—Discovering Your Personal Communication Style does just what the title says. It takes you on a journey similar to what Bob offers in his training sessions and workshops, culminating in the discovery of your personal communication style.
Part 1 clearly defines the seven communication components—the ingredients of your style.
A chapter is devoted to each component and includes a discussion of the component's inherent strengths and challenges, along with activities to promote skill development.
Real life stories, drawn from Bob's professional and personal life, illustrate how an understanding of different styles facilitates effective communication. They include couples in conflict, parents trying to manage complex challenging behaviors in their children, and business colleagues needing greater collaboration.
Throughout Part 1 communication tips and guidelines offer focused ways to listen and ask clarifying questions.
Part 2, the workbook, follows the well honed method Bob has developed and taught over many years in a variety of professional and community settings. He takes you through eight structured activities to help you discover your personal communication style, how it can get you into trouble and the tools needed to enhance communication success.
Click here to find the Communication Styles Inventory and begin exploring the seven communication components.
Finally there is a rich section titled "Basic and Necessary Communication Skills" that is full of communication gems such as "Repairing Broken Communication" and "Giving Emotional Validation" and lays out an eight-step problem-solving format.
Looking through the communication style lens will change your relational world. You will understand your own needs better and develop more patience and skill listening to others. Though the ideas in this book are simple and straightforward, their application has profound impact.
Background Theory
For over 30 years, Bob Keteyian has been counseling through the communication styles lens, focusing on the natural language of the client. This approach relies on the inherent processing abilities of each individual and is naturally validating. Each of us is unique and therefore has a unique communication style, which is related to our learning style.
Click here to read "Why Communication Styles Matter" and learn more about the relationship between learning styles and communication styles.
Learning styles theory is at the base of the communication styles approach. The fundamental question Bob asked many years ago was this: How are learning styles reflected in interpersonal communication? Thinking in words, images, or feelings reflects some of the common, inherent differences that drive individual communication styles. It also helps explain the confusion and communication breakdowns that so readily occur. When you solve the communication style conflicts in relationships, you increase collaboration and give clearer definition to other personal and relational issues.
