Emotional Communication at a glance
Emotional Communication refers to a continuum of behaviour that results from your ability to put your inner feelings into words (as opposed to describing external experiences).
WHEN YOU EXCLUSIVELY EXPRESS EXTERNAL EXPERIENCES
- Your vocabulary to describe your feelings will be limited.
- You will prefer a fact-based discourse.
- You will speak very plainly, without flourish.
- Anger will be the emotion you give the greatest voice to.
- You will tend to keep your accomplishments to yourself.
WHEN YOU EXCLUSIVELY EXPRESS INTERNAL EXPERIENCES
- You will have a rich emotional vocabulary.
- You will prefer a feelings-based discourse.
- You will be highly articulate and nuanced.
- You will fluently express diverse emotions.
- You will proudly extoll your successes to others.
Each MIPI dimension is measured on a continuum that ranges from 0 - 90.
| COMPETENCY IS ABSENT | 0 - 15 | 16 - 30 | 31 - 45 | 46 - 60 | 61 - 75 | 76 - 90 | COMPETENCY IS MAXED |
| MIDPOINT | |||||||
These continua can be subdivided into 6 “hextiles” that represent signposts of behaviour, radiating outwards from the midpoint. These hextiles appear below. Click their names for more details.
| INCREASINGLY TENDS TOWARDS EXTERNAL EXPRESSION |
INCREASINGLY TENDS TOWARDS INTERNAL EXPRESSION |
When a client's score is malleable, the competency in question is not in the client’s repertoire. The client will almost exclusively use alternative competencies.
In the case of malleable Emotional Communication, the client will almost exclusively describe their experiences in external terms and will seldom if ever express internal states.
| Hextile: | EC-A03 |
| Representation: |
left strong |
| Nearest adjective: | “humble” |
| Adjacent adjectives: | “calm”, “stoic” |
| T-score range: | 0 - 15 |
As with all MIPI competencies, malleable Emotional Communication can be understood through three different lenses:
- Appearance (what does this competency band look like in terms of behaviour?)
- Engagement (what is the best way to interact with a person in this competency band?)
- Development (what are some things someone in this competency band can do to improve their quality of life?)
The details of these lenses appear in the tables below (click table headings to toggle open/closed).
STRENGTHS
CHALLENGES
BEHAVIOURS
Someone in this band may demonstrate the following beneficial behaviours:
- Candid and straightforward
- Humble and grounded
- Objective and fact-based
- Unhampered by a “need to be right”
- Adept at task-oriented roles
Someone in this band may demonstrate the following unhelpful behaviours:
- Limited range of emotional expression
- Frequent reactivity
- An aloof demeanour
- Lack of nuance or subtlety
- Hesitance to acknowledge success
SITUATIONS
Someone in this band may fare best
in the following situations:
- Situations with minimal social interaction
- Situations requiring objectivity
- Situations requiring emotional stability
Someone in this band may struggle
in the following situations:
- Situations with frequent social contact
- Discussions involving opinion
- Situations involving “shades of grey”
DO
DO NOT
STRATEGIES
- Emphasize feelings over facts. Remind them that feelings are an important part of the story.
- Ask after their feelings. Someone in this band will be surprised by the question.
- Encourage self-promotion. Someone in this band could benefit from more of this.
- DO NOT abandon facts. Someone in this band excels at dealing with hard facts.
- DO NOT push if they resist. Articulating feelings is challenging for them. Give them time to think.
- DO NOT advocate bragging. They may not separate boastfulness and self-promotion.
SAMPLE STRATEGIES
SAMPLE ACTIVITY
MITIGATIONS
Mitigating strategies will help to ease some of the immediate concerns that someone in this competency band may face, but will not address underlying causes.
- Learn to recognize your anger. Anger often fills the gaps left by a limited emotional vocabulary. If you see the signs, you can prevent it building.
- Try behavioural experiments. This involves expressing yourself to others just to see what happens. You may be surprised.
LONG-TERM
Long-term strategies will help to address deeper issues and can move the needle on this competency band. These take more time to practice and learn.
- Build your emotional vocabulary. This includes finding language for emotional intensity as well as for the different kinds of emotions.
- Explore reasons for your limited vocabulary. Many people learn not to express their feelings at an early age. This can inhibit success later in life.
The following complimentary worksheet PDF may be useful for a client with malleable Emotional Communication.
For more programming ideas, including workshops, coaching suggestions, workbooks and Powerpoint slides (for both individuals and groups), please contact us.
When a client's score is developing, the client has begun to use the competency but will still resort to using alternatives for most situations.
In the case of developing Emotional Communication, the client will tend to describe their experiences in external terms, but will also express internal states when it feels safe to do so.
| Hextile: | EC-A02 |
| Representation: |
left moderate |
| Nearest adjective: | “” |
| Adjacent adjectives: | “”, “” |
| T-score range: | 16 - 30 |
As with all MIPI competencies, developing Emotional Communication can be understood through three different lenses:
- Appearance (what does this competency band look like in terms of behaviour?)
- Engagement (what is the best way to interact with a person in this competency band?)
- Development (what are some things someone in this competency band can do to improve their quality of life?)
The details of these lenses appear in the tables below (click table headings to toggle open/closed).
STRENGTHS
CHALLENGES
BEHAVIOURS
Someone in this band may demonstrate the following beneficial behaviours:
Someone in this band may demonstrate the following unhelpful behaviours:
SITUATIONS
Someone in this band may fare best
in the following situations:
Someone in this band may struggle
in the following situations:
DO
DO NOT
STRATEGIES
- DO NOT
- DO NOT
- DO NOT
SAMPLE STRATEGIES
SAMPLE ACTIVITY
MITIGATIONS
Mitigating strategies will help to ease some of the immediate concerns that someone in this competency band may face, but will not address underlying causes.
LONG-TERM
Long-term strategies will help to address deeper issues and can move the needle on this competency band. These take more time to practice and learn.
- Practice compassionate communication. This involves expressing observations, feelings and needs in the context of making a request.
The following complimentary worksheet PDF may be useful for a client with developing Emotional Communication.
For more programming ideas, including workshops, coaching suggestions, workbooks and Powerpoint slides (for both individuals and groups), please contact us.
When a client's score is balanced (left), the client has a good balance between the competency in question and its alteratives, but will gravitate towards alternatives under pressure.
In the case of balanced (left) Emotional Communication, the client is equally comfortable both expressing their experiences in external terms as well as expressing internal states but will prioritize describing external experiences when threatened or presented with an ambiguous situation.
| Hextile: | EC-A01 |
| Representation: |
left slight |
| Nearest adjective: | “” |
| Adjacent adjectives: | “”, “” |
| T-score range: | 31 - 45 |
As with all MIPI competencies, balanced (left) Emotional Communication can be understood through three different lenses:
- Appearance (what does this competency band look like in terms of behaviour?)
- Engagement (what is the best way to interact with a person in this competency band?)
- Development (what are some things someone in this competency band can do to improve their quality of life?)
The details of these lenses appear in the tables below (click table headings to toggle open/closed).
STRENGTHS
CHALLENGES
BEHAVIOURS
Someone in this band may demonstrate the following beneficial behaviours:
Someone in this band may demonstrate the following unhelpful behaviours:
SITUATIONS
Someone in this band may fare best
in the following situations:
Someone in this band may struggle
in the following situations:
DO
DO NOT
STRATEGIES
- DO NOT
- DO NOT
- DO NOT
SAMPLE STRATEGIES
SAMPLE ACTIVITY
MITIGATIONS
Mitigating strategies will help to ease some of the immediate concerns that someone in this competency band may face, but will not address underlying causes.
LONG-TERM
Long-term strategies will help to address deeper issues and can move the needle on this competency band. These take more time to practice and learn.
- Identify and embrace your core values. This involves selecting adjectives that most resonate with you so you can manage conflicts.
The following complimentary worksheet PDF may be useful for a client with balanced (left) Emotional Communication.
For more programming ideas, including workshops, coaching suggestions, workbooks and Powerpoint slides (for both individuals and groups), please contact us.
When a client's score is balanced (right), the client has a good balance between the competency in question and its alternatives, but will gravitate towards the competency under pressure.
In the case of balanced (right) Emotional Communication, the client is equally comfortable both expressing their experiences in external terms as well as expressing internal states but will prioritize describing internal states when threatened or presented with an ambiguous situation.
| Hextile: | EC-B01 |
| Representation: |
right slight |
| Nearest adjective: | “” |
| Adjacent adjectives: | “”, “” |
| T-score range: | 46 - 60 |
As with all MIPI competencies, balanced (right) Emotional Communication can be understood through three different lenses:
- Appearance (what does this competency band look like in terms of behaviour?)
- Engagement (what is the best way to interact with a person in this competency band?)
- Development (what are some things someone in this competency band can do to improve their quality of life?)
The details of these lenses appear in the tables below (click table headings to toggle open/closed).
STRENGTHS
CHALLENGES
BEHAVIOURS
Someone in this band may demonstrate the following beneficial behaviours:
Someone in this band may demonstrate the following unhelpful behaviours:
SITUATIONS
Someone in this band may fare best
in the following situations:
Someone in this band may struggle
in the following situations:
DO
DO NOT
STRATEGIES
- DO NOT
- DO NOT
- DO NOT
SAMPLE STRATEGIES
SAMPLE ACTIVITY
MITIGATIONS
Mitigating strategies will help to ease some of the immediate concerns that someone in this competency band may face, but will not address underlying causes.
LONG-TERM
Long-term strategies will help to address deeper issues and can move the needle on this competency band. These take more time to practice and learn.
- Follow a template to deliver bad news. This involves pre-structuring the delivery of your unpopular messaging.
The following complimentary worksheet PDF may be useful for a client with balanced (right) Emotional Communication.
For more programming ideas, including workshops, coaching suggestions, workbooks and Powerpoint slides (for both individuals and groups), please contact us.
When a client's score is solidifying, the client has begun to explore alternatives but will still resort to using the competency in question for most situations.
In the case of solidifying Emotional Communication, the client will tend to describe internal states, but will also describe their experiences in external terms when it feels safe to do so.
| Hextile: | EC-B02 |
| Representation: |
right moderate |
| Nearest adjective: | “” |
| Adjacent adjectives: | “”, “” |
| T-score range: | 61 - 75 |
As with all MIPI competencies, solidifying Emotional Communication can be understood through three different lenses:
- Appearance (what does this competency band look like in terms of behaviour?)
- Engagement (what is the best way to interact with a person in this competency band?)
- Development (what are some things someone in this competency band can do to improve their quality of life?)
The details of these lenses appear in the tables below (click table headings to toggle open/closed).
STRENGTHS
CHALLENGES
BEHAVIOURS
Someone in this band may demonstrate the following beneficial behaviours:
Someone in this band may demonstrate the following unhelpful behaviours:
SITUATIONS
Someone in this band may fare best
in the following situations:
Someone in this band may struggle
in the following situations:
DO
DO NOT
STRATEGIES
- DO NOT
- DO NOT
- DO NOT
SAMPLE STRATEGIES
SAMPLE ACTIVITY
MITIGATIONS
Mitigating strategies will help to ease some of the immediate concerns that someone in this competency band may face, but will not address underlying causes.
LONG-TERM
Long-term strategies will help to address deeper issues and can move the needle on this competency band. These take more time to practice and learn.
- Follow a framework for giving feedback (e.g., “the Pendleton method”. This involves stimulating dialogue rather than issuing a directive.
The following complimentary worksheet PDF may be useful for a client with solidifying Emotional Communication.
For more programming ideas, including workshops, coaching suggestions, workbooks and Powerpoint slides (for both individuals and groups), please contact us.
When a client's score is reinforced, alternatives to the competency are not in the client’s repertoire. The client will almost exclusively use the competency in question.
In the case of reinforced Emotional Communication, the client will almost exclusively describe internal states and will seldom if ever describe their experiences in external terms.
| Hextile: | EC-B03 |
| Representation: |
right strong |
| Nearest adjective: | “articulate” |
| Adjacent adjectives: | “personable”, “brave” |
| T-score range: | 76 - 90 |
As with all MIPI competencies, reinforced Emotional Communication can be understood through three different lenses:
- Appearance (what does this competency band look like in terms of behaviour?)
- Engagement (what is the best way to interact with a person in this competency band?)
- Development (what are some things someone in this competency band can do to improve their quality of life?)
The details of these lenses appear in the tables below (click table headings to toggle open/closed).
STRENGTHS
CHALLENGES
BEHAVIOURS
Someone in this band may demonstrate the following beneficial behaviours:
- Wide range of emotional expression
- Extraordinarily articulate
- A warm and friendly demeanour
- An appreciation for nuance
- Celebratory of team success
Someone in this band may demonstrate the following unhelpful behaviours:
- Tendency towards glibness
- Occasionally boastful
- Struggles with objectivity
- Often “needs to be right”
- Needs frequent validation
SITUATIONS
Someone in this band may fare best
in the following situations:
- Interpersonal negotiation
- Ambiguous situations
- Situations involving subtlety
Someone in this band may struggle
in the following situations:
- Frequent isolation from others
- High stress situations requiring calm
- Situations requiring objectivity
DO
DO NOT
STRATEGIES
- Focus on facts over feelings. Someone in this band may try to distract you with emotional language.
- Maintain a thick skin. Someone in this band may say things to challenge you.
- Enjoy your time together. Someone in this band is likely friendly and easy to be with.
- DO NOT deny your client’s feelings. These will come out; the challenge is to strike a balance.
- DO NOT indulge rude behaviour. Be clear with your boundaries and call out breaches right away.
- DO NOT become charmed. You will find it hard to work together if things become too friendly.
SAMPLE STRATEGIES
SAMPLE ACTIVITY
MITIGATIONS
Mitigating strategies will help to ease some of the immediate concerns that someone in this competency band may face, but will not address underlying causes.
- Practice calculated silence. This will prevent you from overshadowing others or lashing out with harsh words.
- Be assertive, but not aggressive. Remember that everyone else has rights and deserves respect the same way you do.
LONG-TERM
Long-term strategies will help to address deeper issues and can move the needle on this competency band. These take more time to practice and learn.
- Improve reflective listening. This involves leveraging attending and reflecting skills to create effective connections with others.
- Release your “need to be right”. Consider others’ perspectives without applying your own template on their position.
The following complimentary worksheet PDF may be useful for a client with reinforced Emotional Communication.
For more programming ideas, including workshops, coaching suggestions, workbooks and Powerpoint slides (for both individuals and groups), please contact us.