Communication styles in relationships – Painters and Pointers

Quite often, issues in relationships arise due to different communication styles. While there are many theories in this area, one that we find interesting is the theory of two distinct, perhaps even opposite, communication styles – the ‘Painters’ and the ‘Pointers’.

Published on 25 February 2023

Quite often, issues in relationships arise due to different communication styles. While there are many theories in this area, one that we find interesting is the theory of two distinct, perhaps even opposite, communication styles – the ‘Painters’ and the ‘Pointers’.

Painters

  • Need to think out loud
  • They ‘paint a picture’ with their communication, citing great detail and often expressing emotion through the story.

 

Pointers

  • Pointers arrange their thoughts before they speak
  • Tend to be straight to the main point in their communication and may not convey much emotion.