Jennifer Maxson had an opportunity to be interviewed by Karen Mangia in Thrive Global on the topic of the future of work.

According to a recent Harvard Business School study, the most essential communication skill for leaders is the ability to adapt their communication style. How do you adapt your communication style?

When communicating, my goal is to be audience-focused rather than presenter-focused. What many of us forget is that we have already bought into our own idea, concept, or solution. Your communication is not about you, it should be focused on what the audience needs to see, hear, and feel in order to support your idea, concept, or solution. When we are audience-focused, it allows the presenter to relax and connect with those in the physical or virtual room.

Here are my go-to questions that help me adapt my communication style:

Who will be in the audience? What are their roles? How much do they know about my topic? What do they want and need to know about my topic? Do they want me to get right to the point or start with a casual conversation? What is their DiSC style? What is their current attitude about me/do they know me? What is the setting: virtual, in-person, or hybrid?

If you don’t know the individuals in your audience, go to a trusted resource to learn about the audience styles. As leaders, it is our responsibility to adapt our communication style to the needs of our audiences.

Click here to read the full story in Thrive Global.

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