How Personality Shapes Your Communication Talent

Some people speak to fill the silence. Others speak to move mountains. The Communication talent shows up in ways that can be dramatically different from person to person — and understanding your specific style is the key to using it effectively.

In our previous exploration, we dove into Command® — a talent built for taking charge and making decisions. Today, we shift gears to explore one of the most visible, expressive, and socially vital talents in the Gallup deck: Communication®.

This series layers two powerful assessment tools to give you the complete recipe. We'll explore your CliftonStrengths themes through the lens of personality types.

Understanding how your Communication talent operates differently from someone else's isn't just a matter of curiosity — it's essential for connecting authentically and ensuring your message lands the way you intend.

What Is the 'Communication' Talent?

Communication belongs to the Influencing domain in the Gallup framework. It's about how you connect with others through words — spoken or written.

People with high Communication have a natural gift for expression. They don't just talk; they captivate. They know how to choose the right words to hit the heart of a matter. They weave stories that pull people in. What makes them special isn't just that they can express their own thoughts and feelings — they can often find the words for what others are thinking and feeling too.

This talent shows up in many ways: the coworker who always knows what to say in a meeting, the friend who can articulate exactly what you're feeling, the presenter who keeps an audience hanging on every word.

But here's the thing: Communication looks different in different people.

The Data — What Large-Scale Research Revealed

I conducted an independent study, gathering results from a large group of people who took both CliftonStrengths and a personality assessment called MBTI® (Myers-Briggs Type Indicator). MBTI divides people into 16 personality types based on how they prefer to gather information and make decisions.

Don't know your MBTI type? You can take a free assessment here: https://www.16personalities.com/free-personality-test

Research shows a clear connection between personality type and how Communication talent manifests. People with types like ENFJ, ENFP, ENTJ, ENTP, ESFJ, ESFP, ESTJ, and ESTP — those who draw energy from the outer world and interaction with others — are far more likely to have Communication in their top talents.

This makes intuitive sense. If you naturally focus outward and engage with people, your mind is already wired to express yourself and connect with others.

Four Kinds of Communication — Which One Are You?

To understand why Communication looks different in different people, we need to distinguish between four distinct ways it operates.

Type 1: The Action-Oriented Communicator

Common in: ESTJ, ENTJ

You experience Communication as a tool for organizing, directing, and achieving. When you use the Communication talent, you're often speaking to mobilize people toward action.

The Experience: "I don't just talk — I speak to get things done. My words have a purpose. When I present, I want people to know exactly what we're doing and why."

The Strength: Clear, structured, purposeful communication that drives results

The Risk: Can come across as too direct or dismissive of emotional aspects

Type 2: The Connecting Communicator

Common in: ENFJ, ESFJ

You experience Communication as a way to create harmony and connection. When you use the Communication talent, you're often speaking to build relationships and ensure everyone feels heard.

The Experience: "I speak to bring people together. I want everyone to feel included and understood. The best communication is when I see people nodding and connecting with what I'm saying."

The Strength: Warm, inclusive communication that builds trust and morale

The Risk: May avoid difficult conversations to maintain harmony

Type 3: The Exploratory Communicator

Common in: ENFP, ENTP

You experience Communication as an exploration of ideas and possibilities. When you use the Communication talent, you're often speaking to brainstorm, innovate, and see connections others miss.

The Experience: "I speak to discover what's possible. Every conversation is a chance to find new ideas. I love saying 'What if?' and watching people's eyes light up."

The Strength: Enthusiastic, imaginative communication that inspires innovation

The Risk: Can overwhelm others with too many ideas or lose focus

Type 4: The Present-Moment Communicator

Common in: ESTP, ESFP

You experience Communication as a way to share what's happening right now. When you use the Communication talent, you're often speaking to describe the immediate experience with vivid detail.

The Experience: "I speak to share what I'm seeing and feeling in this moment. Life is happening now, and I want others to experience it with me. Look at this — can you believe what's happening?"

The Strength: Vivid, energetic communication that brings ideas to life

The Risk: May focus too much on the present and miss longer-term implications

Your Compass for the Road Ahead

Your talents are the main ingredients of who you are. Your personality type is the seasoning that gives them their unique flavor — character, power, and individuality. The same talent can taste completely different depending on who brings it to life.

Here's your practical guide:

If you're an "Action-Oriented Communicator": Balance directness with empathy

Your risk is coming across as too direct or dismissive of emotional aspects.

Action: Pair your clarity with questions that show you care about others' perspectives. Before delivering a message, ask yourself: "How will this land emotionally?" Use your strength for structure to also build genuine connections.

If you're a "Connecting Communicator": Embrace difficult conversations

Your risk is avoiding tough conversations to maintain harmony.

Action: Practice having necessary but difficult conversations. Remember that true connection sometimes requires honest feedback. Use your warmth to deliver tough messages in a way that people can hear and grow from.

If you're an "Exploratory Communicator": Channel enthusiasm into action

Your risk is overwhelming others with too many ideas or losing focus.

Action: Practice narrowing down to the best ideas and creating clear next steps. When you brainstorm, end with concrete action items. Use your enthusiasm to build momentum, then channel it into execution.

If you're a "Present-Moment Communicator": Connect to the bigger picture

Your risk is focusing too much on the present and missing longer-term implications.

Action: Practice connecting your vivid observations to broader patterns and future possibilities. When you share what's happening now, also ask: "What does this mean for where we're going?" Use your storytelling to make abstract future concepts feel real and immediate.

Conclusion

Whether you're driving action, building connection, exploring possibilities, or living in the moment, the destination is the same — expressing yourself in a way that resonates with others. The difference lies only in the path your mind takes to get there.

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Want to discover which type of Command you have? Read "MBTI: Unpacking the Nuances of 'Command' Theme" on Medium to learn more about research results and deepen your knowledge.

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🗨 I’d love to hear how this combination manifests in your life. Join the discussion in the comments:

The Reality Check: Do you have Command in your Top 5? Does your MBTI type match the heavy “Thinking” dominance we discussed?

The Source Code: When you take charge, what drives you? Is it the need for Efficiency (“Let’s move”), Innovation (“Let’s change this”), or Accuracy (“Let’s fix this”)?

The Feedback: “Thinking” types are often called intimidating. Have you had to learn specific social “softeners” to ensure your Command lands as leadership rather than aggression?

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The substantive content in this article is 100% original, based solely on my personal analyses and insights. I used AI solely to assemble it into a cohesive and unified text.

Gallup®, CliftonStrengths®, StrengthsFinder®, and each of the 34 CliftonStrengths® theme names are trademarks of Gallup, Inc.

The non-Gallup information you are receiving has not been approved and is not sanctioned or endorsed by Gallup in any way. Opinions, views and interpretations of CliftonStrengths® themes are solely the beliefs of Dariusz Kowalski