As a consultant living and working in Silicon Valley, I am often in the position of trying to resolve communication and conflict between people from different departments in an organization.  For example: Have you heard people call the IT personnel nasty names and have you heard IT people call those they are supposed to serve “stupid users?”

Although both terms are nasty they really do communicate what people with vastly different cognitive styles think about each other.  For instance, 'detail people' tend to be controlling.  Others don’t want to memorize all that detail.  They misunderstand each other on a fundamental level.

In this course we look at cognitive styles from a variety of angles.  First as we define them and their position on a bell shaped curve.  Then we look at how cultural differences – in particular the way people were taught – affect out thinking and communication style.  We also discuss styles as they are defined by two of the most popular personality tests:  Myers-Briggs and the DISC.  

Finally, we put it all together giving you some ideas as to how you can modify your style to make it easier for the other person to understand you.

Learning Objectives
  • Discover that there is no right or wrong style – we need them all
  • Recognize the style of people with whom you interact and hopefully will be able to modify your style to be more effective when communicating with them.
  • Identify your own style and learn why it is effective in some professions but not necessarily in others.
Last updated/reviewed: August 27, 2023

Included In Certifications

This course is included in the following Certification Programs:

29 CoursesMastering Management Certification

  1. Preventing Harassment, Abusive Behavior, Bullying, And Discrimination In the Workplace
  2. The Art and Science of Interviewing
  3. Investigating a Complaint of Inappropriate Behavior in The Workplace
  4. Understanding Our Unconscious Biases
  5. Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) Management’s Role
  6. Management Providing Safety and Better Ergonomics
  7. Maintaining a Culture of Innovation and Creativity
  8. Managing Passive People
  9. Group Decision Making and Problem Solving
  10. Resolving Workplace Conflict
  11. Company Culture: Creating and Maintaining the Best
  12. Part I: Cultural and Behavioral Information for Business in an International – Global Environment
  13. Part II: Country Specific, Cultural, and Behavioral Information - Doing Business in a Global Environment
  14. Effective Time Management and Goal Setting/Delegation
  15. Culture: Inside the Company and Outside the Country
  16. Cognitive Styles (Styles of Thinking, Talking, Giving and Receiving Information)
  17. Finding Success with Teams Working Far Apart
  18. Change Management: The People Side
  19. Effective Workplace Negotiation and Persuasion
  20. Ethics and Attitude in the Workplace
  21. Creating Rewards and Recognitions that Get You What You Want to Achieve
  22. Onboarding: From Entry-Level to Senior Executive
  23. Marrying Career Development with Succession Planning
  24. Visibility Enhances Promotability
  25. Delegating Skills for Managers
  26. Assertiveness Skills for Executives, Managers and HR Professionals
  27. How EQ Helps Motivate Your Staff
  28. Effective Meeting Management for Leaders, Managers, and Facilitators
  29. Communication: A Two-Way Process
4 Reviews (20 ratings)

Reviews

4
Anonymous Author
The course was good. Provided general and basic information and background on subject matter making you aware of various cognitive styles, as stated in the course objectives. It is up to you to now ascertain your style and those around you to make potential adjustments that can lead to more positive, productive interpersonal relationships, including communication, empathy and caring to name a few. Good stuff that makes you "think" about how to grow and improve, and consider and address style differences. Can't ask for much more in a basic course over an hour than to lay out the context and a bit of the road map. Like other course and learning, the real work is now to apply these concepts during the journey.
5
Member's Profile
The provided great information on cognitive styles, making you more aware of the various styles. I always enjoy the extra information such as references as to who is OCD, etc. Helps keep things interesting.
4
Anonymous Author
Good review for a few different styles of communication. Understand ing there is not right way, we are all different
5
Anonymous Author
The course was very enlightening. It helped answer questions, that you were not sure how to ask.
Prerequisites
Course Complexity: Intermediate

No advanced preparation or prerequisites are required for this course.

Education Provider Information
Company: Illumeo, Inc., 75 East Santa Clara St., Suite 1215, San Jose, CA 95113
Contact: For more information regarding this course, including complaint and cancellation policies, please contact our offices at (408) 400- 3993 or send an e-mail to .
Instructor for this course
  Course Overview CPE
Course Syllabus
INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW
  Introduction to Cognitive Styles (Styles of Thinking, Talking, Giving and Receiving Information)21:26
  Cultural Differences6:00
  Myers-Briggs7:39
  DISC8:57
  Personal Differences6:52
  Putting It All Together3:37
CONTINUOUS PLAY
  Cognitive Styles (Styles of Thinking, Talking, Giving and Receiving Information) Full Video54:33
SUPPORTING MATERIALS
  Slides: Cognitive StylesPDF
  Cognitive Styles Glossary/IndexPDF
REVIEW AND TEST
  REVIEW QUESTIONSquiz
 FINAL EXAMexam