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Straight Talk

Using Strategic Communication for High Impact Results

Krista Stelmaszek & Ellen Rambo

Organizational Learning

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You will learn to…

Recognize the four Straight Talk® styles and the strengths, weaknesses, similarities and differences among them
Identify how your unique Straight Talk® profile contributes to your success
Determine practical ways to effectively adapt your style to improve your communication with others

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Three Elements of Communication

Style: Our own way of thinking and communicating
Intent: The underlying purpose of our communication,
Content: What is being said: information, stories, opinions ideas.

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What constitutes a competent communicator?�

Ask good questions.
Assert one’s own beliefs and feelings clearly and honestly.
Getting all the facts before you draw conclusions.
Practice active listening — paraphrasing what another person says to confirm your understanding of the situation.

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Why Take the Straight Talk Assessment?

To identify the ways in which you communicate at work
To understand, respect, appreciate, and value individual differences
To develop strategies for flexing your communication style

Goal: Communicate more productively with others.

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The Four Primary Straight Talk Styles

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Directors Task/Action -- What?

Drivers

Visionary

Decisive

...may appear insensitive

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Expressors - People/Action -- Who?

Dynamic

Animated

Ideators

...may appear disorganized

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Harmonizers - People/Reaction -- How?

Caring

Dedicated

Steady

...may take on too much

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Thinkers Task/Reaction -- Why?

...may miss a deadline

Problem solvers

Methodical

Detail oriented

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What are the strengths of your style?

https://tinyurl.com/42c2whd5

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What are the challenges of your style?

https://tinyurl.com/56nxcxpp

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Assumptions?

What assumptions do you make about…

Directors, Expressers, Harmonizers, Thinkers

How do those assumptions hinder effective communication

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Secondary Styles

Director

Expressor

Harmonizer

Thinker

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Adapting and Flexing Your Style�

Communicate in a mode that will make other people feel more comfortable relating to you
Modify your style so that it takes the tone of the company you keep
Without appearing unnatural or phony
Learn to speak their language

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Directors Give information in “bottom-line” terms Keep meetings short and succinct Assert your own ideas	Expressers Express your ideas Talk about your own feelings Let yourself “think aloud”
Thinkers Break problems down into specific parts Take time to review every point thoroughly Ask them questions and solicit their advice	Harmonizers Engage in informal conversation Give information in the forms of questions when possible Avoid saying “no”, find a more gentle way to of communicating it

When Speaking To…

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Putting Adaptation & Flexing into Practice

Stop, listen, and observe clues that show a dominant communication style.
Look for opportunities to flex your communication style to improve your interactions and influence those with differing styles.

By challenging how we typically react and by adapting to the other person and the context, we can improve our communication effectiveness.

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Rule of Center

Shifting toward the center of the matrix helps people become better communicators.

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Team Communication

Director

Thinker

Expressor

Harmonizer

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How to Leverage Straight Talk® with your Team

Share the assessment link for everyone to take: https://gostraighttalk.com/

On your Home page of Straight Talk

Create your team using Team Profiles to generate matrix
Option to invite individuals- will not generate matrix

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What small adjustment can you make to your communication style to enhance better communication with at least one person on your team?