Communication Highwire: Leveraging the Power of Diverse Communication Styles

No matter where we live of what we do, we deal with people using a wide variety of communication styles every day. At work, in the marketplace and at home, diversity in communication styles presents rich opportunities, yet too often people misunderstand each other. Communication Highwire is an important breakthrough for managers, team leaders, community leaders, educators, trainers and facilitators as they help individuals and teams overcome frustration, prevent mistakes and save time and money.

World-class intercultural trainers and educators share their strategies and techniques-and, most importantly, their tools-to leverage diversity in the modern world. Twenty-six powerful activities are ready to go with little preparation. Developed for the first time in this book, the 5-Factor model (Context, Goals, Values, Self-Concept, Communication Style Repertoire) is presented in an easy-to-use Star Chart approach. A 4-Step process puts it all together: combining Factors and Descriptors to enhance communication. Dozens of examples-stories from international business to politics to community development to family life-make the concepts real and applicable.

Communicating across a variety of styles requires the skills of a tightrope walker, but the rewards to the performers are immense.