Laura Thorburn, M.S., CCC-SLP
"Workplace culture" is more than just a buzzword. It’s the foundation for how teams collaborate and build relationships at work. A big part of workplace culture is communication style, which affects how we interact with colleagues, handle stress, and solve problems. Knowing your communication style can improve your workplace relationships and help you become a better leader.
Speech therapists who specialize in professional communication often use the “Fawn, Friend, and Foe” model to help people understand their communication style. Let’s take a look at this model and how to use it to improve your own communication on the job.
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Find a speech therapistThe 3 communication styles used at work
According to this model, there are three different ways people communicate:
Fawn communicators focus on keeping the peace. They often put others' needs ahead of their own and avoid conflict.
Foe communicators tend to put their own needs first. They may show less respect for others’ ideas.
Friend communicators try to balance respect for themselves and others. They encourage open and honest communication.
Recognizing these styles is just the start. With coaching from a speech therapist, you can improve your communication, adjust your style to fit different situations and audiences, and speak more clearly. As a result, you’ll be able to build better relationships, lead with confidence, and help create a more productive work environment.
Why communication style matters at work
A strong communication style helps you express your ideas clearly and build positive relationships. But it’s also important to understand other people’s communication styles. Whether you're leading a team, working with customers, or collaborating on a project, understanding how others communicate promotes respect. It can also help prevent misunderstandings and conflicts.
Let’s take a closer look at the three communication styles and how they can be adapted for workplace success.
Fawn communication style: The people-pleaser
People with the Fawn communication style prioritize harmony, sometimes at the cost of their own needs. They may:
Apologize often, even when it's not needed
Avoid disagreements to keep the peace
Make concessions instead of expressing their own ideas
This approach can reduce conflict. However, if you’re always trying to please others, it can be harder to make decisions and grow professionally.
Speech therapy can help people with the Fawn style by teaching them how to be more assertive. A speech therapist can show you how to:
Choose your words carefully
Express yourself clearly and confidently
Set healthy boundaries in conversations
Foe communication style: The challenger
The Foe communication style thrives in high-pressure situations. People with this style are direct, competitive, and often unafraid to challenge others’ ideas. They may:
Speak bluntly, not thinking about how their tone comes across
Dominate conversations and focus on their own agenda without listening to others
Challenge authority or push their ideas aggressively
While this style can drive innovation, it can also cause tension if it’s not managed well. A speech therapist can help Foe communicators refine their tone and delivery, ensuring they stay persuasive without sounding too aggressive.
Friend communication style: The connector
The Friend communication style balances assertiveness with empathy. These individuals actively listen, join in conversations, and act with diplomacy. They may:
Listen attentively and engage in meaningful conversations
Address conflicts with respect and find win-win solutions
Encourage a positive and collaborative work environment
Friend communicators create a supportive atmosphere in the workplace. They help build strong, respectful relationships that make teamwork easier. A speech therapist can help improve skills like active listening and speech clarity. They can provide communication coaching on:
Tone and pacing
Articulation and pronunciation
Strategies for confident, engaging speech
Expressable offers custom coaching to help you improve your communication, no matter which style is yours! Find out more about our approach in a free consultation call. It’s quick, easy, and there’s no obligation.
How to become a better communicator at work
There are a few important steps you can take to become a better communicator at work. First, think about your communication style. Do you tend to avoid conflict, challenge others, or seek connection?
Next, recognize the needs of different situations at work. Some conversations require you to be more assertive. Others need a more diplomatic approach.
Finally, focus on becoming more flexible. Being able to adjust your communication style will help you connect with different personalities and leadership styles.
Mastering your communication style, and understanding the styles of others, will help you manage workplace interactions more confidently. By understanding the Fawn, Friend, and Foe model, you can build stronger relationships and become a more effective communicator.
Ready to strengthen your communication skills?
Working one-on-one with a speech therapist, you’ll learn professional communication skills that are tailored to your needs. These might include breath support for vocal control, speech clarity for better articulation, and how to choose the right words to sound confident. In sessions, you might also use role-playing to practice real-life workplace conversations.
Expressable speech therapists offer personalized coaching to help you improve your professional communication. Through our online portal, you’ll also receive customized learning materials, video lessons, and home practice exercises. Working with a speech therapist can help you develop clarity, confidence, and adaptability—so your message is always understood as you intend.
Sign up here for a free consultation call with Expressable. We’ll be glad to tell you more about our professional communication program and answer any questions you have.
