Communication is Key: Understanding personalities to unlock better outcomes

By Vivienne Broderick

Every workplace has them …

Sam always wants all the facts about something before making a decision. Jordan gets frustrated with too much talk and just wants to get started on things. Grace enjoys chatting with everyone, any time. Ray is often heard to say, “Just give me the bottom line – I don’t need all the facts!” Riley keeps checking with other team members about whether they are doing the right thing.

None of these approaches are wrong. They simply reflect different ways of thinking, communicating, and interacting.

The challenge is that when we don’t understand these differences, frustration can quickly develop. The person who wants more information may be seen as slowing things down. The person who wants action may be viewed as impatient. The person who enjoys conversation may be considered distracting, while the person who focuses only on results may appear abrupt.

Understanding personality differences can make every interaction easier and leads to:

Stronger teams
Fewer misunderstandings
Quicker conflict resolution
Better customer relationships
Increased productivity
Improved leadership.

Personality profiling looks at what makes different people tick, and if you are able to tap into individual needs and styles, you will be more successful in how you interact with them.

The 4 Bird Personality Profiling Tool is based on two key behavioural continuums:

Direct versus Indirect: how we communicate with others.

Supporting versus Controlling: how we influence and work with others.

People who are more direct tend to:

Speak openly and get to the point.
Say what they think without much hesitation.
Make decisions quickly.
Address issues head-on rather than avoiding them.

People who are more indirect tend to:

Choose their words carefully to maintain harmony.
Hint or suggest rather than state things bluntly.
Take time before expressing opinions.
Prefer diplomacy and tact when discussing sensitive issues.

People with a supporting approach tend to:

Focus on helping and encouraging others.
Build relationships and create trust.
Collaborate and seek consensus.
Be patient, approachable and empathetic.

People with a controlling approach tend to:

Take charge and provide direction.
Focus on achieving results and meeting objectives.
Make decisions confidently and independently.
Set clear expectations and hold others accountable.

By understanding where we naturally sit on these continuums, we can identify our preferred communication style and better understand the preferences of others.

Eagles are decisive, results-focused, and like action. Eagles want progress, challenges and to get things done.

Owls are analytical, organised and value facts and accuracy. Owls want lots of information and make well-considered decisions.

Doves are supportive, patient and relationship-focused. They value harmony, cooperation, and making sure people feel included.

Peacocks are enthusiastic, outgoing and enjoy people. They are creative, ideas-people, and love exploring possibilities.

Once you understand someone’s preferred style, you can adapt your approach to communicate more effectively.

You will give Sam lots of facts and evidence before asking for a decision. Jordan will respond better to concise information focused on outcomes. Grace will value time spent building rapport. Ray will appreciate only the basic facts, without too much “fluff.” Riley needs you to touch base often and give reassurance of work well done.

Here’s two examples of how you might recognise the different personalities:

You are in a team meeting discussing introducing a new computer system:

The Eagle says, “Why are we still discussing this?”
The Owl says, “We haven’t gathered enough information.”
The Dove says, “How will this affect everyone?”
The Peacock says, “Let’s brainstorm another possibility!”

Imagine four people planning the same project.

The Eagle asks, “When do we start?”
The Owl asks, “What’s the process?”
The Dove asks, “Who’s affected?”
The Peacock asks, “What possibilities haven’t we considered?”

Quick tips for communicating with the four personalities:

When talking to an Eagle:

Be brief
Get to the point
Focus on outcomes

When talking to a Dove:

Build rapport
Listen carefully
Show appreciation

When talking to a Peacock:

Be enthusiastic
Encourage ideas
Allow conversation

When talking to an Owl:

Have your facts ready
Explain your reasoning
Don’t rush decisions

The goal is understanding, not labelling. Personality profiling isn’t about putting people into boxes. It’s about recognising that people naturally see the world differently. When we understand those differences, we become stronger communicators, more effective leaders, and better colleagues.

As Rumi wisely said:

“Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself.”

Perhaps the greatest communication skill is not learning how to change others, but learning how to adapt ourselves.

Training Matters delivers training on a range of topics including communications, sales, personality profiling and more. Contact vi***********@***il.com if you would like to discuss your team’s training needs.

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