Have you ever left a conversation with someone wondering if you were speaking two different languages? Obviously, you were speaking the same language—or at least the same words were coming out of your mouths—but something wasn’t clicking and you didn’t quite know what it was. I’m here to let you know that although you may not have been speaking different languages, you may have been speaking with different voices (and I don’t mean your “inside” versus “outside” voices).
There are five different voices in leadership, all of which have unique sets of strengths and weaknesses. The 5 Voices are the Nurturer, the Creative, the Guardian, the Connector, and the Pioneer. This framework was developed by Steve Crockram and Jeremie Kubiceck. Knowing the 5 Voices is great for developing a diverse team of people who play into one another’s strengths and fill in for each other’s shortcomings. Yet, having such a diverse team comes with its own set of difficulties.
When working in collaboration, difficult conversations, uncomfortable feedback, and messy brainstorms are inevitable. So, when these moments arise, it is important to know who you are talking to and what voice they speak with. Here’s the key: most people favor a few different voices and have one voice that is particularly prominent in the way they think, act, and process. Learning how to communicate with your team possessing different voices will bring you and your team to further levels by allowing you to understand one another better, and be more effective when executing your overall goal.
How to Communicate with the Nurturer
The Nurturer is “the mom friend” in the group— the one who always has the hand sanitizer or lotion in their purse because you forgot to bring yours. You know that you can always go to them with your problems and they will provide judgement-free, wisdom-filled advice. Nurturers tend to be highly empathetic and emotionally intelligent individuals, and they often put their morals above all else. Their secret superpower is intuitively feeling how a team or organization will react to new ideas or conversations.
With these tendencies in mind, when talking to a Nurturer, match them. Lead with empathy and genuine compassion. Due to their empathic nature, they often take on or heavily feel the energy and emotions of the other people in the room. And, like a mom in the household, their actions can often be overlooked because of the frequently “smaller” or subtler nature of their contributions. So, to keep your Nurturer nourished, make sure to acknowledge their efforts and contributions. Finally, since they’re often focused on amplifying others’ voices, make sure they feel safe to also express their own emotions, thoughts, and ideas.
How to Communicate with the Creative
Have you ever had a friend who invented the craziest ideas and things to do? They’re always great ideas, but never things you could have thought of doing on your own. Friends like that are your Creatives. They’re always coming up with new ideas, and bringing a whole new energy along with them. Creatives think outside the box and ten steps ahead (minus the nine to get there because they already see the big picture). Creatives are often the most misunderstood in a group because they struggle to fully communicate their ideas. But, when given the chance, they can help bring your team’s overall vision to a whole new level.
Since Creative voices often think outside the box, make space for them. Intentionally invite their thoughts and ideas, because they often will not want to be the first to speak up and, sometimes take a while to get their point across. Their ideas may come out abstract or unconventional, but don’t be quick to cut them off. Hear them out, ask them to elaborate on their ideas, and ask follow-up questions. Then, offer pointers on making the next steps or give direction on how to get to the bigger picture. They’ll feel heard and appreciated when their ideas are seen and valued.
How to Communicate with the Guardian
Guardians are the most dependable friends in the bunch. They are your moral compass and will reliably remind you of your goals and values. They’re the ones you can tell your secrets to because they value your honor and trust. They are great at keeping the group grounded and on track because they’re the Guardians of your team’s galaxy (a.k.a. your team’s final desired outcome).
When it comes to speaking with a Guardian, you’ll want to be well-prepared because they tend to ask a lot of questions. They like structure and agendas, so having a well-thought-out plan (rather than just a thought or idea) will go a long way in having a productive conversation with them.
How to Communicate with the Connector
If you’ve ever left a hang-out thinking, “Wow! They know everyone!” it’s probably because you were hanging out with a Connector. They’re usually the person you go to when you need to hear, “Yeah, I know a guy.” Due to their charisma and passion, Connectors are natural people’s people. They can win over just about any crowd or vision meeting because they are great communicators and can be extremely persuasive.
Connectors thrive on personal connection and are often chronic people-pleasers. So, when communicating with a Connector, it helps if you’ve already taken the time to build a healthy relationship and know who they are as a person rather than just the masked, professional work version of themselves. If, for whatever reason, you can’t solely rely on already having a healthy relationship with them, then you can be sure to rely on being conversational, relatable, and personable in your approach to communicating with them.
How to Communicate with the Pioneer
Pioneers are natural leaders. They’re the “it girls” of the group, the trailblazers (and they often give main character energy). Like the Creatives, Pioneers are visionaries, but they’re action-oriented and will take the first step. You’ll turn away for a second only to realize they’re already full-on sprinting, taking their ideas and tackling the problem head-on. But, even for Pioneers, being a born leader can have its own set of disadvantages.
Pioneers are all about action. When communicating with them, you’ll want to be direct, confident, and to the point, because they’ll likely leave the conversation with a thought-out plan for their next move. Don’t shy away from sharing facts or data, because they tend to be logical thinkers, but don’t waste their time by sharing details that don’t matter. At the end of the day, meeting, or conversation, they’ll be asking, “Where do we go from here?” So, if you haven’t come to a conclusion or clear line of vision and understanding together, then you’ve likely lost them.
Creating the Perfect “Friend Group”
When you look at the 5 Voices individually, you may think that they counteract or work against each other. But, if you know how to pull them together, you’re suddenly working with an elite team. Each voice actually works to balance the others out, enhancing their strengths and supporting their needs. It may take a little extra time and effort to get to know the different voices, personalities, and communication styles of your team, but, in the end, it is worth it to effectively communicate and bring out the best in one another.
Which of the 5 Voices resonates with you? Take this test to find out, then reach out at [email protected] to let us know your results! For more information on working, communicating, and collaborating with others, sign up for our newsletters to stay connected and receive frequent updates on more topics and tips like these.
