“I listen and I forget I see and I remember I do and I understand”

Chinese proverb

It is well known that our personality directly influences the way we communicate. Since we are animals of tendencies, it is important to know the most common patterns in order to know what to do with each type of person.

These definitions help us learn how to respond to harmful communicators who think they are always right.

As we will see below, patience, confidence and empathy are typical attitudes that we should always maintain when dealing with these types of people.

Personality types

1. The undecided

They are often in the grip of doubt, they are insecure, and they need a lot of attention and time to fully understand us.

They are people who seek to have several options when it comes to taking action to avoid regretting anything.  For example, they compare a lot of products at the supermarket before deciding which one to buy.

It can be difficult to relate to these people. We must not impose a point of view or show too much confidence, because they will attach importance to it and this will slow down their development.

The best is to create a climate of tranquility and trust with words that promote cooperation, empathy and listening.

Avoid making them feel strange because of their indecision. You shouldn’t be too concrete or get lost in the details, as these people are likely to focus on things that are not so important.

2. The silencer

He  does not offer us any information about his positive or negative emotions. These people keep everything to themselves, and do the same for their opinions.

They reflect a lot on the situation in which they find themselves, they observe us and analyze what are our main characteristics.

The attitude that will make it easier to relate to this type of person is to be empathetic and kind. The best way for them to perceive that we are interested in them is to ask closed questions, which favor the answer “yes” or “no”.

The fact that these people speak little, if at all, can make us think that they are not listening to us and cause us to raise our voices.

This can quickly become unpleasant and should be avoided at all costs. On the other hand, if they do start to make a comment, it is better not to interrupt them.

3. The egocentric

This is a person who thinks she knows everything and who makes us believe that she has a firm, grounded opinion on any possible theme.

She is superior, she does not take advice and always tries to control the situation.

These people only like compliments and constantly refer to their great knowledge on the topic of the conversation, belittling what others are saying.

When entering into a relationship with them, you need to be very objective and concrete. It is imperative to be sure of oneself, empathetic and in a listening attitude to facilitate a good interaction.

If you find this beyond your strength, subtly withdraw without closing the door entirely.

Avoid arriving brutally in a conversation, seeking an argument, or being impatient.

4. The one who thinks

This type of person tends to seek a great deal of information on the topic being dealt with.

When entering into a relationship with him, it is necessary to be patient and to provide the information available in an objective and complete manner.

It is important to let them think and you have to adapt to their pace if you want smooth communication.

You have to avoid being in a hurry, because these people are bad counselors and out of context if they are forced to choose one option or another, if they are forced to speak or if you will make them too nervous.

5. The talkative

This type of person likes to talk about anything, he does not care about the topic. He can jump from one conversation to another in endless ways, so he needs to be given constant attention.

These people are interested in everything and take into account what others have to say. This is why when it comes time to get in touch with them it is important to get straight to the point.

It is necessary to ensure that the enthusiasm does not fade away and not to be tired or dejected.

6. The one who seeks the dispute

We are once again faced with a personality type that can easily overwhelm us.

This type of person, because of their taste for disagreement, can be difficult to bear, make us doubt or even make us take the blame.

Faced with these people who envelop us like a toxic cloud with their airs of superiority and grandeur, we must not lose our calm.

It is important to remain firm and to provide information that reinforces our opinions so that they are not swallowed up under the ego of our interlocutor.

It is not recommended to enter into a controversial discussion or to show your weak points. Nor should we be impressed by the sarcasm or personal criticism that these people may address to us.

7. The shy

Reserved people are not used to looking their interlocutor in the eye, and they put a great distance between themselves and others.

The attitude they adopt is very often withdrawn and they show themselves to be insecure. It is difficult for them to ask questions for fear of ridicule or because of their nervousness.

It is possible to increase the safety of these people by bringing and reinforcing all the positive elements. You can give them advice and offer your help to make the other person feel comfortable and free.

The key to successfully communicating with this type of person is a quiet environment, which promotes progressive eye contact, and non-verbal communication that does not overwhelm the privacy of the other.

It is totally unadvisable to stare at the other person, as it involves a certain challenge which might be frowned upon by the other.

8. The unbeliever

We are once again faced with a type of person who vampirizes communication. She consistently maintains a defensive stance, she exaggerates the negative and downplays the positive.

These people are unwilling to change their minds, they have no interest in controversial discussions and tend to accuse their interlocutor of attempted manipulation.

It is important to be very objective when talking to them so as not to leave doubts about misinterpretations.

Given their tendency to make a mountain of anything, you have to be careful, sure of yourself, and empathetic.

You must therefore remain calm and not leave them alone because this would allow them to strengthen their idea when the lack of attention that others show towards them.

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