Overcoming Communication Challenges: How we take in information

 

Overcoming Communication Challenges (Part II: how we take in information)

Do you find it effortless to communicate clearly with some co-workers or clients, but feel completely misunderstood with others?

 

Carl Jung, the famous Swiss psychologist posited that we have innate preferences that predict how we will act in certain situations – including communication. The four dichotomies that make up the Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) are how we take in information, how we make decisions, where we get our energy, and how we organize our outer world.

 

Let‘s look at how we take in information. The two preference types are Sensing and Intuition. Sensing preferences align closely with the use of the 5 senses – what is tangible as in factual, specific, concrete. Intuition is more conceptual, like fitting puzzle pieces together to form a bigger picture. Neither one is better than the other – just different.

 

When it comes to communication - if we have a sensing preference, we want factual information presented; we want to see plans in sequential steps and based on what has been proven to work.  Compare that with the intuition preference, where we want to see how the facts relate to each other to fit into a bigger picture and to explore possibilities that may not have been considered before.

 

In communication, our differing preferences can cause us to use the same words that mean different things to the two types and lead to misunderstanding.  A great illustration here is with time. “I’ll get this to you in a few minutes.” For a sensing preference “a few minutes” is exactly that – a few (e.g. 3-5 minutes) so that is their expectation for something to be on time. For an intuition preference, “a few minutes” is relative. Even if it is completed hours later, they consider it to be on time.

 

The most important thing to remember for both sensing and intuition preferences in their communication is “clarify, clarify, clarify!”

 

To improve our communication, we want to identify our individual preferences, and understand those opposite ours, so that we know how best to reach across the potential communication gap and have meaningful and productive communication.

 

Want to learn how to improve your collaborative communication and decision-making skills? As a Myers-Briggs Certified Coach, I work with both individuals and groups.

Lavonne Mullet Career Insights, LLC

In partnership with DLBizServices.com | Biz & Life Coach | Business Services

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