Communication – a strength or weakness?
The CliftonStrengths Communication theme is a gift in many settings. But Communication can present challenges and have the opposite of the effect you expect and impact your connection to others. An integral part of our dark side blog series, we offer tips to build your strengths-based practice and live a strengths-based life.
Individuals with high Communication excel at finding the right words to express ideas vividly, share stories that stick, and engage audiences effectively. Yet, like all strengths, the Communication theme has potential blind spots—areas where over-reliance on or misapplication of this talent can lead to unintended consequences. Identifying and understanding these blind spots is vital if you are to make the most of this talent while staying grounded in authentic, constructive communication.
Understanding Communication as a Strength
Those high in Communication naturally think in words and enjoy describing, explaining, or “giving voice” to things. They typically value clarity and prefer to express themselves in a way that’s accessible to others. They also bring energy to group settings and often encourage team discussion by turning complex ideas into relatable, easily digestible messages. People with this theme can:
- inspire,
- motivate,
- entertain, and
- clarify
However, for all its potential, this talent can have limitations when not applied with balance.
Key Blind Spots of the Communication Strength
1. Talking More Than Listening
One of the most common blind spots for people with Communication is a tendency to talk more than listen. Because they’re naturally inclined to share their thoughts and elaborate on topics, they may unconsciously dominate conversations, leaving others feeling unheard. This can become a particular challenge in team environments, where shared input and collaboration are essential. Overuse of verbal expression may unintentionally crowd out other voices, which can impact trust and openness.
One of the most common blind spots for people with Communication is a tendency to talk more than listen
Overcoming This Blind Spot:
Actively practice pausing and inviting others to share your perspectives. (A must-read for you is Deep Listening by Oscar Trimboli.) Setting an intention to listen first before speaking helps balance (or, in fact, makes the conversation two-way!!) the dialogue. Inviting feedback from colleagues or friends helps you gain insight into how others perceive their own listening skills. Pausing to acknowledge others’ contributions can go a long way in building strong, trusting relationships.
2. Over-Reliance on Storytelling
Storytelling is a powerful tool, and people with high Communication naturally leverage stories to make their points memorable and impactful. However, there’s a fine line between insightful storytelling and overwhelming others with anecdotes. If overused, storytelling can dilute the focus of a conversation, particularly in situations where a concise, straightforward answer is more appropriate. Too many stories can feel like too much embellishment and your listeners’ may lose focus or even question your credibility.
Overcoming This Blind Spot:
Learning to assess when a story is relevant to the conversation—and when it’s not—is key. Before sharing a story, pause and consider if it adds value to the topic at hand. Setting the stage for storytelling by briefly stating the main point can also help you keep the narrative concise and impactful, rather than straying into unrelated details. Asking yourself, “Is this story helping clarify the message or adding noise?” – a tip I find acts as a helpful guide.
One of the most common blind spots for people with Communication is a tendency to talk more than listen
3. Preference for Verbal Communication Over Written Communication
Talking comes naturally. Writing, however, may not always be your preferred medium, and you might struggle with long, structured written tasks that require a different level of focus. The verbal fluency that Communication talent holders exhibit doesn’t always translate seamlessly to writing, which may require precision, structure, and brevity. In workplaces or situations where clear documentation is crucial, this preference can become a limitation.
Overcoming This Blind Spot:
Practice organizing your ideas before writing, just as you would outline a story before telling it. Taking the time to develop written structure and tone can improve clarity and ensure that your message comes across as intended. Additionally, using tools like bullet points and summaries helps break down complex messages for clarity, a technique to build into your routine to strengthen your communication talent.
4. Difficulty Handling Ambiguity or Silence
Are you uncomfortable with ambiguity or silence in conversations? You may feel the need to fill the space with words, even when the situation might call for reflection or quiet. This tendency can sometimes lead to saying things without full consideration, potentially resulting in miscommunication. Inadvertently, you may also push others into feeling rushed or pressured to speak before they’re ready, which can hinder genuine sharing and problem-solving.
Overcoming This Blind Spot:
Practicing being comfortable with silence and learning to read the room are valuable skills to nurture. Always seek to remind yourself that pauses allow others time to process information, and this can lead to more thoughtful responses. Developing patience with moments of silence can also deepen interpersonal connections, as it shows openness to listening and understanding at a deeper level. Again, refer to Oscar Trimboli.
5. Appearing Superficial or Lacking Depth
Your ability to convey ideas in simple terms, because of your Communication talent means you may be perceived as being superficial. While you can make complex ideas seem easy to understand, this tendency can sometimes come across as lacking depth, especially when discussing intricate or nuanced subjects. This perception can impact your credibility, which is a great reason to stay tuned in to it especially in professional settings where expertise and detailed understanding are valued.
Overcoming This Blind Spot:
Being able to show the depth behind your ideas will help. Be ready to share additional information or acknowledge complexities that may not be fully covered in a quick summary. This can divert potential criticisms, encourage or deflect alternative perspectives to show that you’ve considered multiple sides of the topic. Asking for others’ viewpoints can also demonstrate that you value depth and are open to richer discussions.
6. Overwhelming Others with Information
Communication-oriented individuals often possess a wealth of information on various topics, which they’re eager to share. The risk of overwhelming others with excessive detail, especially if you are inclined to go off on tangents or over-explain can cause confusion, fatigue, and even frustration in listeners, particularly in fast-paced or high-stakes situations.
Overcoming This Blind Spot:
The key here is to focus on delivering information that’s relevant and concise. Practicing the art of summarization can be helpful. Always keep an eye on what the main takeaway should be and limit your message to that core point. By practicing brevity and learning to “edit” your verbal contributions, you can keep conversations productive and engaging. Some may enjoy the art of graphic recording.
Communication-oriented individuals often possess a wealth of information on various topics, which they’re eager to share.
Final Thoughts
Awareness of these blind spots allows individuals with the Communication strength to become more intentional and self-aware in their interactions. Communication is a powerful tool, but like all strengths, it’s most effective when balanced with listening, adaptability, and sensitivity to others. By developing these skills, people high in Communication can maximize their impact, create authentic connections, and truly elevate their message.
Six quick tips to stop over communicating
- Action to Balance Talking with Listening
Practice Active Listening Techniques:
- Start conversations by asking a question and waiting to respond until the other person finishes sharing.
- Use reflective listening by summarizing what you heard before adding your thoughts. This reinforces listening and helps others feel valued.
Quick Tip: Set a timer for 1-2 minutes and let others share without interrupting. Aim to listen fully before responding.
- Action to Focus Storytelling
Consider the Purpose of Your Story:
- Before sharing an anecdote, ask yourself, “How does this story add to my main message?”
- Practice telling stories with a time limit (e.g., 2 minutes) to hone concise storytelling skills. Aim to deliver only the most relevant details.
Quick Tip: Try to finish your story with a direct takeaway or insight, connecting it back to the topic at hand.
- Action to Strengthen Written Communication
Practice Outlining Before Writing:
- Before you begin writing, jot down a few bullet points to structure your thoughts. This will help you stay focused on the main points and maintain clarity.
- Use editing tools (e.g., Grammarly, Hemingway) to refine your writing for brevity and readability.
Quick Tip: Write a short summary or “headline” for your written message first. This can serve as a guide for keeping your message on track.
- Action to Embrace Silence in Conversations
Count to Three Before Responding:
- After someone else speaks, pause and count to three before responding. This gives others a moment to add more thoughts and prevents you from filling the silence too quickly.
- Practice mindfulness or breathing exercises before meetings to develop comfort with pauses and reflective moments.
Quick Tip: During team discussions, remind yourself that silence is an opportunity for deeper reflection and that you don’t need to fill every pause.
- Action to Show Depth and Credibility
Prepare Key Facts or Data Points:
- Before important meetings or discussions, come prepared with a few well-researched data points or examples to support your main points. This can help you convey credibility and depth.
- When sharing ideas, add a brief mention of any sources or prior experiences that back your perspective.
Quick Tip: Think about adding one “supporting detail” for each main point you make to show depth without overwhelming others.
- Action to Avoid Overloading Others with Information
Practice the Rule of Three:
- Aim to share no more than three main points or pieces of information at a time. This can prevent your message from becoming overly detailed or complex.
- Practice summarizing complex ideas into one or two sentences first, and save extra details for when they’re requested.
Quick Tip: End with a question like, “Would you like to hear more about that?” to let others decide if they want further detail.