Communicating with others is part of life and oftentimes, it is required when working or in any social situation with multiple people. Understanding the proper way to communicate with people is essential and helps to keep oneself at ease during discussions, debates and even arguments with those who are disagreeing about a subject matter. Effective communication styles range from having the
. ability to listen to knowing the various ways to speak to people based on their personalities and their current mood or presence.Reading on effective communication styles is possible by using books or by using free resources that are available online. Tips on speaking with people and how to interpret conversations and others' actions are all available for free online without purchasing a book or paying a membership fee to view the information.One website that has an entire paper on effective communication styles and how to deal with others' ways of communicating is Portland Community College's official website, PCC (http://spot.pcc.edu/~rjacobs/career/effective_communication_skills.htm). PCC offers information for browsers about different personality types including a free on-site test to take from home to determine one's own communication style. Styles range from the "explorer" and "hands-on" to "thinker" and "free thinker". While the "thinker" arrives promptly and is rarely late for meetings or events, the "free thinker" allows for flexibility and does not like to adhere to a daily routine or schedule. Understanding people's ways of rationalizing and thinking is a way to effectively communicate with anyone regardless of their opinions and personality.Another site online for understanding communicating and communication styles is the official website for the United States Air Force (http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/sba/comm_style.htm). AF's website has information on how to determine one's own communication style whether it is aggressive, passive or assertive in addition to understanding the types of phrases and statements that are correlated with each style. More reference links: http://spot.pcc.edu/~rjacobs/career/effective_communication_skills.htm http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/sba/comm_style.htm
