Some people talk like they’re giving a TED Talk. Others say nothing for three days and then send a 2 a.m. paragraph. Whether you’re direct, diplomatic, or just dodging confrontation entirely, your communication style shows up in every conversation—whether you notice it or not.
This quiz isn’t about fixing how you talk. It’s about figuring out what your baseline even is. Do you lead with logic? Are you always reading the vibe? Do you over-explain or shut down when things get messy?
Let’s break it down. You might learn something about how you show up—and why people respond the way they do.
History Lesson
The Rise of Workplace Communication Training
The idea of having a “communication style” didn’t come from philosophy or linguistics—it came from HR. In the post-WWII boom, as office life expanded and corporate culture took hold, companies began training employees not just in job skills, but in how to talk. By the 1970s, assertiveness training became a buzzword, often pitched as a way to help employees—especially women—speak up without being labeled “difficult.”
By the ’80s and ’90s, personality tests like the MBTI were common onboarding tools, and communication seminars became a workplace staple. You’d learn to give feedback with “I” statements, avoid passive-aggressive emails, and maybe even figure out if you were a “driver” or an “amiable.” Today, the legacy of all that soft-skill training shows up in everything from Slack etiquette to how we structure apologies.
Turns out, your communication style isn’t just who you are—it’s what the workplace taught you to be.
Quiz Writer
Gennie dances through life with the grace of a leaf caught in a playful gust. That is to say, she continuously finds herself moving to the ever-changing rhythms of the world around her. She often shares stories of swaying to the melodies of Vivaldi and Chopin and a touch of Ella Fitzgerald during her early years. Gennie never misses a beat, whether she's penning evocative stories that resonate deeply or solving intricate puzzles that challenge the mind. Currently, she's weaving words for her upcoming book, a title she playfully keeps a secret. Dive into a conversation with her, and you'll quickly find yourself captivated by her tales, riddles, and the vibrant energy she brings to every encounter.
Did you know?
Ancient Rhetoric Was Basically Communication Style Theory
Long before modern psychology labeled us passive, assertive, or aggressive, the ancient Greeks were already categorizing how people persuade. Aristotle’s rhetorical triangle—ethos (credibility), pathos (emotion), and logos (logic)—was essentially an early framework for identifying communication preferences. Some leaned on moral authority, some appealed to feeling, and others just hit you with facts. Sound familiar?
Turns out, we’ve been trying to figure out how to talk to each other for a couple of thousand years.
How to Play?
Our personality quizzes are set up a little differently than your basic trivia quiz, but you’ve probably seen their kind around. Rather than having to choose the right answer from a list of multiple choice options, in this case, there is no “right answer”! (Two plus two will always be four, but every Golden Girls character is equally awesome.)
So, stop stressing. Just click on the answer that suits you best, and enjoy the ride. These quizzes are just for fun but who knows – you might just learn something about yourself along the way!
About Heywise
Get knOwledgeable! Heywise is where entertainment and trivia meet, like a turducken of fun. Anytime. Anywhere. Since 2017, Heywise has been a leader of quizzes on the web, on mobile devices, and across social media.
We explore a broad range of topics – from sports to history, language to pop culture, personality to health. Our quizzes motivate readers to test their knowledge and learn new and exciting facts.
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Have you ever wondered what color represents your personality? Do you know which Hogwarts House you belong to? Are you a Pessimist or an Optimist? Our unique personality quizzes will help you find out! We want to share the knowledge of all things awesome with you.
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