Indirect Communication: “Is not typically authoritative. It invites contribution and makes the listener feel that their ideas are important.”
Indirect Communication is sometimes seen as vague and non-committal, placing listeners in a situation where they have to ‘read between the lines’. However, an indirect communication style can be very useful because it helps teams work together in a more cohesive way, it can help create a respectful and friendly environment. Examples of when this form of communication is appropriate include;
- You want to learn from the person you are talking to as they are the ‘expert’ in a particular field. This could occur when an Operational Manager talks to a financial analyst for example. - You need all involved to be committed to the task you are asking them to do; thus enabling them to all provide their ideas is crucial to forming a collaborative environment.
- You are looking to support someone else to learn through action and involvement. Neither style of communication is right or wrong – it is knowing when to use either of the two styles that is important.