What’s your Communication Flavor?

If you could describe the experience you want to create for others—the way they see, feel, and perceive you as communicator—what three words would you choose? 

“But Chris, aren’t you supposed to tell me what kind of communicator I should be?”

No.

You are unique and an exceptional individual. I don’t have a test to tell you what kind of communicator I think you should be. You don’t fit in a box. So, I’m not going to put you in one.

You decide your flavor.

My clients come from all walks of life. And their experiences, relationships, ideal audience, and professional responsibilities influence the communicator they choose to be. Every client I work with goes through a process to identify their Communication Flavor. It’s not a test; it’s a choice. It’s also the foundation for our work together and ensures my clients are in the driver’s seat when it comes to the communication values they want to emulate. Some of my favorite Communication Flavors include:

Elevating, Energizing, and Challenging.

Curious, Kind, and Proud.

Light, Secure, and Captivating.

The Uncertain, Relatable, Researcher.

Impressive, Passionate, and Energizing.

The Refreshingly Assertive and Supportive Leader.

We’re all different, and we deserve permission to communicate differently. Are their best communication practices? Of course. Is their psychological research and performance techniques which can both ground and empower a speaker? Yes! But your chosen Communication Flavor impacts and motivates the way you engage audiences, build relationships, and consistently present the best version of you.

Ready to determine your Communication Flavor?

The following exercise is meant to unlock the language you want to use to describe the way audiences of one or many see, feel, and experience you.

What do you need?

Just a piece of paper and the willingness and freedom to explore the qualities of yourself you want to highlight as the experience you create for others.

The first part of this exercise is what I call The Everything Box. I know, we don’t fit in a box. Roll with me. This process comes from a theatre technique for identifying unique themes, metaphors, and imagery for a play. I want you to use the same process to identify the experience you want to create for others.

Imagine…

You’re entering a room full of people; or standing on stage about to present an idea; or having a first date; or pitching a project to your team or employer; or interviewing for a job; or even just meeting someone new on the street.

How do you want that person/audience to experience you?

Take five to ten minutes and write down every adjective, image, color, texture, shape, which comes to mind. Important: Do not edit this process. If the color magenta comes up, write it down. If space alien comes to mind, write it down. EVERYTHING you want people to see, feel, and experience belongs in The Everything Box. Believe me, there will be space and time for editing later. For now, give yourself permission to think, feel, and explore language and imagery outside the burden of self-editing and correction. You cannot do this exercise wrong.

Begin when you are ready.

Finished?

Did it take two minutes or fifteen? Guess what? It doesn’t matter, because you cannot do this wrong. Now, read through your list. Does anything else pop up that you want to add? Was there an idea you considered but stopped yourself? Why? Add it. Don’t worry about your perfectionist part or inner critic. I promise, if you thought it, there’s a reason so write it down.

Now, consider the words in your Everything Box and begin grouping them into “like” categories. Some words might belong in multiple categories. Others might belong by themselves. But start grouping words and see what categories begin to form.

From each category, choose one word, image, or idea. It could be a word from the category list, or it could be a word which sums up the like attributes of the category.

If you only had three categories to begin with, this last step helped you identify the three words which sum up your Communication Flavor. If you have more than three categories, I want you to sit with these words and ultimately choose three. The temptation to be all things for everyone can be strong. Choose three powerful, self-resonating words which serve as the foundation for all the language making up your Everything Box.

Having trouble?

Give yourself time to reflect on the language you chose. Where are you stuck? What’s coming up for you? Do you want someone to help you bounce ideas? Give me a call, and together we’ll hone your Communication Flavor.

What’s next?

You don’t fit inside a box. You don’t want to fit inside a box. That’s why you ultimately decide the way your audiences of one or many see, feel, and experience you as a communicator. Now that you’ve made that decision—or at least are well on your way—it’s time to contact me so we can put your Communication Flavor into action. What does it look like, feel like, sound like to be experienced as a communicator who is collaborative, or tenacious, or “magenta”?

Contact me today and together we’ll build and execute an action plan to fully realize the communicator you want to be.