Communication Style Quiz

Between the meetings you attend and the Slack messages you send, a significant portion of every day in the workplace is spent communicating with others. But how exactly are you communicating? Is it helping you achieve your goals, build interpersonal relationships, and resolve conflicts? Or is it holding you back and making your job more difficult? 

To help you answer those questions, start by finding out what your communication style is by taking the following quiz. But don't stop there. Once you know what your personal communication style is, send the quiz along to your coworkers and share your results amongst yourselves. This will not only help you get to know each other better, but it will also encourage you to learn more about the other communication styles so that you can adapt your approach as needed.

QUESTION 1

Choose the words that best describes how you think others see you at work:

1. Strong-willed
2. Rational
3. Reserved
4. Cooperative

QUESTION 2

How do you feel about speaking up in the workplace?

1. I will speak up for myself in any situation, no matter what.
2. I am comfortable speaking up for myself, but I take the time first to collect my thoughts.
3. Speaking up for myself makes me feel uncomfortable, so I rarely, if ever, do so.
4. I want to speak up for myself, but when I do, I tend to speak indirectly or sarcastically.

QUESTION 3

When in a conflict at work, what are you mainly focused on?

1. Making myself heard.
2. Finding a win-win solution that works for everyone, including myself.
3. Going with the flow.
4. Cooperating with others in order to avoid direct confrontation.

QUESTION 4

Your boss asks you to do something for them but you’re dealing with an urgent matter. What do you say?

1. I tell them bluntly that I can’t and that it will have to wait or it will have to go to someone else.
2. I explain the urgent matter, give them a timeline, and tell them I’d be happy to do it then if that works.
3. I don’t say anything, I’ll make it work.
4. I agree to do it, but I make sure they know it is an inconvenience and complain to my colleagues.

QUESTION 5

Communication isn’t just about what you say, it’s also about how you say it. Which of the following best describes your tone:

1. Loud, over-expressive, intense
2. Firm, composed, confident
3. Soft, hesitant, apologetic
4. Indirect, ironic, sarcastic
   
   
   

QUESTION 6

Your coworker didn’t complete their part of a team project you’re working on. What do you say to them?

1. “You’re putting the whole project in jeopardy.”
2. “I noticed you haven’t submitted your part yet. I want to remind you we need it by Friday.”
3. “I know you’re busy, so I took care of your part.”
4. “Don’t worry about it. I’ll figure it out on my own.”

QUESTION 7

How do you feel about compromising at work?

1. I don't like to compromise and will fight it as long as possible.
2. I’m happy to compromise, listen to the opinions of others, and take the time to find a win-win solution.
3. I’ll always compromise if it means keeping the peace.
4. I will compromise, but if I’m not happy about it, I’ll make it known.
   
   
   

QUESTION 8

What is your greatest struggle when it comes to communicating at work?

1. Letting others speak and listening to them.
2. Hearing others out without sacrificing my own needs.
3. Having the confidence to speak up and share my thoughts.
4. Saying what I really mean in the moment.

QUESTION 9

A coworker shares an opinion in a meeting, but you feel differently. What are you most likely to do next?

1. I’ll tell them then and there that I disagree and why.
2. If it seems appropriate to do so, I would share my opinion and present a compromise.
3. I’d keep my opinion to myself in order to avoid unnecessary attention or conflict.
4. I wouldn't directly disagree with them, but I might drop hints about it.
   
   

RESULTS: YOUR COMMUNICATION STYLE IS...

Mostly A's - Aggressive

Mostly B's - Assertive

Mostly C's - Passive

Mostly D's - Passive-Aggressive