A very recent example of how I needed to adjust my communication to meet another person’s style was just yesterday on day shift. I had a family, in particular one of the daughters, that I now understand to be a person with a “thinker” style of communication. I realized that I needed to adjust my communication from my more comfortable “feeler” style, to one based on providing details to facilitate connection and communicate the message I was trying to convey more effectively.

She sat quietly in room while I discussed her loved ones status change with her and the other members of her family. She interjected after remaining quiet for some time with very specific questions relating to the medications both routine and PRN that I had administered. She seemed to rely heavily on past experiences and interventions that had previously been successful, and was anxious and seeking answers for the need for changes when the old ones had ” always worked”.

I have historically found “thinker” style communicators somewhat challenging, and this case was no exception. I have felt this way as they seem to differ in their focus so significantly from what my “feeler” approach values as important. I understand now that this is my style, as I have always built “connection ” and therapeutic relationships with people through the sharing feelings, stories and arriving at decisions through collaboration.

I questioned why “thinkers” would focused on details and data instead of what I would describe as the general “sense” of a situation. This family member was, what I felt at the time, fixated on the medications, times and doses and less on holistic nature of multiple interventions that are not as measurable. This I now understand to be a misconception on my part. It is not that they are limited in the scope of how they wish to approach, view or value the quality of a loved ones palliation, but rather they need to focus on these kinds of details to have the knowledge they feel they require prior to moving forward.

This reality required me to tell this family member that I needed to go and review the MAR and past PRN doses/timings to be able to answer her questions properly. I came back to the conversation with a much more detailed facts- based discussion to appease her style. I provided health teaching with a discussion on the PPS % scoring and what data these percentage scores were based on to satisfy her drive to sooth herself with numbers. By rising up to meet her within her communication style to build “connection” I was able to then ease into a more general goals of care conversation that discussed overall quality of life once she felt engaged with enough to listen .

As a thinker, I naturally gravitate towards data-driven and logical communication. However, in my role as a nurse case manager, I often interact with families of medically complex individuals who tend to be feelers. These families value emotional connections and personalized communication, which requires me to adjust my approach to meet their needs.

When interacting with these families, I typically come well-prepared with extensive documentation, including charting and Medication Administration Records (MARs). My initial approach is to provide detailed information supported by data and factual evidence about their loved one’s medical condition and care plan. However, I consciously adjust my communication style by showing more emotion, emphasizing aspects of the care plan that improve quality of life, and tailoring my communication to each family’s unique preferences.

By making these adjustments, I build stronger connections with the families, ensuring they feel heard and supported. This approach not only helps in providing holistic care but also fosters trust and cooperation, which are essential in managing the complex needs of their loved ones. As a thinker, I value logical reasoning and structured problem-solving, but I recognize the importance of adapting my style to connect effectively with others, particularly in emotionally sensitive situations.

I believe I am naturally a thinker as I tend to communicate based on logical, analysis of information and critical thinking. Recently, there was a situation at work where a client was experiencing a panic attack. They voiced this was the first time they have experienced such sensation thus felt very overwhelmed. I found switching to communicated based on traits encompassed of a ‘feeler’ made the client feel more comfortable and relaxed. By engaging in informal dialogue and focusing on collaboration, we were able to overcome the situation. I found the client was at first hesitant to communicate with myself , thus I asked a colleague the client was close with to join us, as this helped the client feel safe and comfortable. Once the panic attack passed, we discussed interventions that could be helpful in case they were to experience it again. As this was not a medical emergency, I focused on the emotional needs of the client through feeler style communication.

I often adjust my communication style when interacting with students and tailoring it to a more direct/ straight-forward approach or a more open, detail oriented communication style depending on the individual. As the readings suggest, no one is strictly one style and it varies with the situation. Personally, I adapt my approach based on the need’s of the student. However, I tend to naturally gravitate towards thinker and feeler styles.

I believe my communication style is a feeler with a bit of thinker mixed in as I tend to tailor my communication in a more personal approach but I also like facts/details and like to be prepared and able to back up my information as needed.

An example of when I may need to adjust my communication style to meet another’s style is when interacting with a residents family members. Usually when speaking with them I like to have their MARS, Documentation and other important information they may have questions about so I am prepared and have factual documents to refer back to. While speaking to different families their communication styles vary largely. Sometimes I have to take on more of my “feeler” style that is my comfort zone in order to provide emotional support and ensure these families feel supported. On another hand I have had many family members who have more of an “Imaginer” communication style and I have had to tailor my communication style to meet their needs. An imaginer want’s to see the big idea’s and that we as a nursing team have considered multiple approaches for their loved one’s care. Tailoring my communication style to their’s allows me to communicate what myself and/or the team has done and what different options we have considered and maybe even tried for their loved one. This builds trust with this family member as they can see the team has not just “given up” after one try, the team has brainstormed and considered many approaches to their loved ones care.

I honestly believe I embody a blend of all three communication styles depending on the context. With my management team, I aim to be succinct and direct. When communicating with my staff and new hires, I combine empathy and analytical thinking. And when there’s a task at hand, I focus on taking action.

Recently, during a meeting with the UCPs I supervise, I acknowledged the realities of their job, recognizing that not every day is positive. I stressed the importance of learning from difficult days to implement small changes that lead to more positive outcomes. I also reminded my team to be mindful of the diverse communication styles of our clients and patients, emphasizing the need to overcome communication barriers with understanding and patience.

I believe effective leadership needs diversity. I essentially adjusted my communication style when I was a preceptor. I used a combination of different communication styles to interact with my preceptee. The doer, the feeler, and the imaginer. For instance, I approach with a doer style to enforce the preceptee to produce good-quality patient care. With a feeler style, I create a participative atmosphere by opening a discussion and answering questions. And used an imaginary communication style by motivating the preceptee by letting the preceptee think about the future and letting the mission and vision serve as her inspiration.

I can think of a time when I was instructed to practice hand hygiene, physical audits, during meal times. I complied with the administrator’s inclination. I had to envision myself as a boss/leader and use my task competence skills to guide, support, educate, motivate and encourage the PSW staff to conform to mandatory regulations. I place myself as a thinker and can relate to a procedure or process. Also, I am motivated by the sense of contribution.

Janet,
I agree Nurses have to adapt and navigate to a variety of communication styles daily.

I feel daily we adjust our communication to meet another person’s styles, from engaging with our families, to work relationships and professional settings. I find myself rotating out each style of communication when I have conversations with my team when I have to be more of a doer style to ensure our time is managed and the message is communicated clearly. When meeting with our management team I find I’m more of a thinker while we discuss need for improvements or problem-solving. I find when I speak with my clients or staff one-on-one, I am more of a feeler and allow there to be more openness to the conversations and build relationships.
In giving those examples of when I most use a certain style a conversation could include many or all communication styles, depending on the direction of the conversation. An example during a case conference the conversations can start with a feeler style, allow openness to start the meeting, leading to a doer style to determine the outcome of the conference and flip-flop and incorporate a thinker style to introduce ways to resolve any issues discussed and circle back to a doer and finish with a feeler.
Unfortunately, I feel there is not just one style that I would say is my style, if I had to choose, I would identify as a feeler. I appreciate building relationships and, in my role, longer-term relationships are the key to being successful with my team and community clients.

I believe that my communication style is “the thinker”. I find myself gravitating towards trends, behaviour patterns and logical referrals from other nurses. My role within my place of work is the clinical lead for BSO. I constantly am working with seniors with high intense needs & physically responsive behaviours. I work hand – hand with the home doctors and a geri-psychiatrist as well. I will often find myself receiving referrals regarding behaviours and ponder what we can do within my home to make the senior(s) needs met, and make them more comfortable. This can be a stressful & alarming process for some of the family member’s, mostly coming from an emotional standpoint, as this is their loved one with dementia. Often times I will need to adjust my communication to a more “emotional” level to meet the families needs, as the process of having a geri – psychiatrist look after their loved one can be hard for them to experience. Most families will often become upset due to their loved one changing in the dementia stages; so they require more support. To ensure I am well prepared for myself, the geri- psychiatrist, and the families for the consults, I provide thorough documentation (behaviour notes, MAR’s, DOS’s, and interventions within their care plans), so I can provide step by step evidence of why this person is having increased agitation or behaviours and what our next plan is to help. I do the best I can to provide active listening and emotional support for families, and adjust my tone while speaking so it is in a friendly yet professional manner. I believe by doing this, it offers to the families that I care for the well being of their loved one, and that we will do whatever we can to provide them with a safe and comfortable environment.

I would like to thank everyone for posting their communication styles and experiences. I have learned from all posts this week regarding communication and health care. I will take everyone’s experience and use it towards my new journey as an RPN. I do not have much experience communicating to patients and families and I see how important it is for me to adapt to the situation at hand regarding nursing. I feel I gravitate towards a “thinker” communication style as an RPN and this will help me gain trust with my patients and families as information helps present knowledge, skill and confidence. Thank you-Alhasan- for explaining that many of those you deal with as a case manager tend to be feelers and that you adjust your approach to include emotion, empathy and meet the unique needs of each person involved.

I think I can be all communication styles, depending on the situation that is presented. Rebecca mentioned “read the room” and I can relate to this very much, whether in nursing or in life. I can be an “imaginer” often and I have a difficult time making decisions. I often have many “new ideas” and love discovery and the future. Personally, I believe there is always one more way to consider doing anything and I love a good discussion and that everyone has a turn to add input. I love different ideas, concepts and perspectives. I can be “all over the place” and I find those who are close to me have a hard time “keeping up”. This way of communication can be very frustrating with doers and thinkers. I have many different employment experiences-dental, remote community dentistry, factory work-Toyota, car parts manufacturing, remote camps in Alberta as a house keeper, construction industry and now nursing. I imagine and communicate all my “plans” and go after them. I can not sit still long. Due to this communication style (and life style) I have a hard time maintaining a relationship and I do not have a family. Many people find this style difficult and unpredictable.

I like to think I am a mix of communication styles. Often times I am a doer – straight to the point and like to skip the fluff. Other times I am more feeler and connect to emotions more so. I can think of times when I’m speaking with my manager about a task or an issue and I want to be straight to the point at finding a solution. Other times I am dealing with family members and while I need to find a solution, I need to adjust my communication style to meet the family where they are which leads be to put my feelings and theirs more into the conversation and situation.
I am currently in the process of completing a presentation for upper management and I know that there are multiple communication styles within the meeting, so I have made a presentation outlining different topics and will be adjusting how I address those topics with different communication styles.

Hello,
I believe my communication style is a “feeler”. As a feeler, I naturally focus on emotions, relationships, and ensuring everyone feels valued in a conversation. I believe this is my style because I prioritize connection, harmony, and understanding how decisions impact people.
One example of adjusting my communication style was during a team meeting where I worked with a “doer”. She was eager to jump straight into action, while I wanted to make sure everyone’s opinions were heard first. Recognizing her need for efficiency, I adapted by keeping my points concise and suggesting a quick round of input from the team before moving forward with a plan. This way, Danielle could take action while still considering the team’s perspectives. This experience reinforced that while I naturally lean toward emotions and inclusivity, effective communication sometimes means adapting to different styles to reach a common goal.
Thanks for reading this post!
Rose