Communication Highwire: Leveraging the Power of Diverse Communication Styles

Step right up to the exciting three-ring circus of 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.

Dianne Hofner Saphiere (M.S.) is founder and Principal of Nipporica Associates LLC, an intercultural consulting and training firm, and creator of the CulturalDetective.com series.

Barbara Kappler Mikk (Ph.D.) is Assistant Director of International Student and Scholar Services at the University of Minnesota, where she is responsible for intercultural training and programs.

Basma Ibrahim DeVries (Ph.D.) is Assistant Professor of Communication Studies at Concordia University in St. Paul, Minnesota, and conducts intercultural training workshops for educational and community groups.