How to Answer the "What is Your Communication Style?" MBA Admissions Interview Question
There are 2 things you must do when answering this question!
One of the most common questions MBA applicants are asked during the admissions process is "What is your communication style?"
While this may seem like a simple question, it's actually quite difficult to answer. After all, how are you supposed to know what the interviewer wants to hear?
Luckily, we've got you covered. In this blog post, we'll tell you everything you need to know about how to answer this question in an MBA admissions interview.
We'll give you some tips on what the interviewer is looking for and some examples of great answers to this question. By the time you're finished reading, you'll be ready to tackle this question with confidence.
What the Interviewer Wants to Hear
When an interviewer asks you about your communication style, they're not just looking for a description of how you communicate. They're also trying to get a sense of how well you would fit into the culture of their specific business school.
To give a great answer to this question, you need to do two things:
First, you need to demonstrate that you're aware of different communication styles and how they can be used in different situations.
Second, you need to show that you're flexible and can adapt your communication style to fit any situation.
Here are some examples of great answers to this question:
"I'm generally a very direct communicator. I like to get straight to the point and I'm not afraid of giving criticism when it's warranted. However, I'm also aware that not everyone communicates in the same way. I'm very good at reading people and adapting my communication style accordingly. For example, if I'm talking to someone who is more introverted, I'll take a more gentle approach so as not to overwhelm them."
"My natural communication style tends to be on the reserved side. I tend to think before I speak and I don't like conflict. However, I've found that in certain situations it's necessary to be more assertive to get my point across. I'm comfortable doing that when the situation calls for it."
Examples of possible follow-up questions
- Can you give an example of a situation where you had to adapt your communication style?
- What do you think is the most important element of effective communication?
- Do you have any suggestions on how best to communicate with someone who has a different communication style than your own?
Key takeaways
Answering the "what is your communication style?" question in an MBA admissions interview isn't as difficult as it may seem at first glance.
Just remember that the interviewer is looking for two things: first, an awareness of different communication styles; and second, flexibility in adapting your own communication style to fit any situation.
With those two objectives in mind, you should have no trouble crafting a great answer to this common MBA interview question.
