People process and express information in different ways. Knowing the dominant communication style of someone you work or live with can reduce misunderstandings, build stronger relationships, and make collaboration easier. The three core styles are visual, auditory, and kinesthetic, with a fourth, reading/writing, sometimes included as well. Learn more in Episode 10 of WooBiz from guest Tree Ryde.
Communication Styles Comparison Table
| Style | How They Communicate | How They Prefer to Receive Information | Signs to Recognize Them | Tips to Communicate Effectively |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visual | Use descriptive language, often say “I see” or “It looks like…” | Like charts, diagrams, infographics, and visual cues | Doodle while listening, watch facial expressions closely | Use visuals (slides, sketches), maintain eye contact, send written follow-ups |
| Auditory | Speak clearly, enjoy discussions, say “I hear you” | Prefer spoken instructions and verbal discussions | May repeat back information, enjoy phone/video calls | Talk things through, allow time for Q&A, confirm understanding aloud |
| Kinesthetic | Expressive gestures, physical analogies, say “I feel” or “It just clicks” | Like hands-on tasks and physical demonstrations | Fidget or move while listening, test ideas physically | Offer demos, let them handle objects, use role-play or practice |
| Reading/Writing | Favor structured words, lists, and notes | Prefer written text, emails, and documentation | Take lots of notes, prefer step-by-step guides | Provide written material, use bullet points and clear structure |
Why This Matters: Key Stats
Understanding how common each style is can help you prioritize how you communicate with groups. Research shows most people favor visual and auditory communication, with kinesthetic and reading/writing styles being less common but still important. This makes it valuable to build messages that incorporate more than one style.
- Around 65% of people are primarily visual learners (NCBI study)
- Approximately 30% are auditory learners, benefiting from spoken explanations and discussions
- Roughly 5% are kinesthetic learners, who need physical interaction to fully absorb new ideas (University of Illinois research)
- People remember about 10% of what they read, 20% of what they hear, 30% of what they see, and up to 90% of what they do (National Training Laboratories data)
Dominant Styles
Everyone uses a blend of communication styles, but most people have a dominant style that feels most natural and effective to them.
This dominant style tends to show up consistently across contexts—how someone prefers to learn, give instructions, explain ideas, or resolve conflicts. Recognizing someone’s dominant style helps you:
- Adjust your messaging so they understand it faster
- Avoid frustration from mismatched communication
- Enhance collaboration by playing to their strengths
For example, a person with a dominant visual style may get frustrated with long verbal briefings, while a kinesthetic communicator may lose focus in slide-heavy meetings without any interactive components.
Real-World Examples of Each Style
To make these styles easier to spot, here are quick examples of how each might appear in everyday life or work.
Visual communicator
Maria is a marketing designer. When planning a campaign, she immediately sketches out mockups and mood boards. In meetings, she prefers to see charts or diagrams rather than just hearing updates. When her manager switched to visual status boards, her productivity soared.
Auditory communicator
James is a customer service trainer. He absorbs information best during discussions and likes to talk through problems aloud. He often repeats what someone says to confirm understanding. Giving him written guides alone doesn’t work — he needs a verbal walkthrough to retain details.
Kinesthetic communicator
Aisha is a lab technician. She learns new procedures by trying them herself, not by watching or reading. She asks to “do a test run” whenever she’s taught something new. She gets restless in long sit-down meetings unless they involve hands-on activities or movement.
Reading/writing communicator
Leo is a project analyst. He thrives on structured documentation and takes meticulous notes during every meeting. He prefers detailed instructions in email form, and he rarely makes mistakes if he has a checklist. He often turns verbal conversations into written action plans.
FAQs About Communication Styles
Listen for their word choices (see, hear, feel, write), observe how they engage (watch, talk, do, take notes), and notice which methods make them respond most positively.
Yes. Most people are a mix but usually have a dominant style. It’s common to flex between styles depending on context or task.
They can shift slightly with experience or training, but people generally retain a strong preference for their dominant style throughout life.
It helps reduce misunderstandings, speeds up collaboration, and improves productivity by aligning how you share information with how they process it.
Use a blended approach: visuals in presentations, verbal discussions, hands-on demos, and written summaries to ensure everyone receives the message effectively.
Tailoring your approach helps avoid escalation. Visual people may want calm charts of options, auditory people want to talk it out, and kinesthetic people want to role-play possible outcomes.
They are closely related. Communication styles focus on how people send and receive messages; learning styles are about how they process new information. The two often overlap.
It’s less common as a dominant style but very effective in academic and technical settings, where structured written communication is essential.
Incorporate all modes: slides for visuals, spoken narrative for auditory learners, interactive activities for kinesthetic learners, and a written handout for reading/writing learners.
Yes. Culture can influence which style is preferred or valued. For example, some cultures emphasize oral storytelling (auditory) while others prioritize written records or visual symbolism.