Communication Accommodation Theory and interviewing

Have you ever analyzed the way you speak to different people? What words you chose? How you say those words? Believe it or not, we all accommodate our communication styles depending on the situation we are in. We shift speech patterns in order to fit in with the person we are talking with or differentiate ourselves from that person. This is called communication accommodation, when you adjust your communication style in order to fit the style of the person you are speaking with. This theory explains why we speak differently in work situations versus speaking in casual situations.

            This theory is broken down into two parts; convergence and divergence. Convergence is when we change our speech styles to be more like the person we are speaking with. In essence, when we elect, knowingly or unknowingly, to communicate in the same way the other person communicates.  The way we accommodate our communication by convergence, is by the way we change our pitch, the words we choose, and also our non-verbal communication. Divergence is when we accommodate one group’s speech style to define differences in another group’s communication style. In divergence, the differences are often emphasized and made to differentiate themselves from another group to establish some sort of identity.

            A great example of communication accommodation theory is how we speak during an interview and how we normally speak with friends. Everyone, when interviewing, tries to convey themselves as the best version of themselves. Isn’t that interesting that we put on a scene to try and sell ourselves as someone we are not in order to get the job? Let’s play this out. You get a phone call from the person who will be interviewing you and change your tone to a respectful, excited sound and automatically accommodate your speech to the way the person you are speaking with is speaking. Now that you have the interview set up, you practice answering questions, thoughts of what to expect run through your mind and you try to be as prepared as possible. Since you have pre-determined expectations of how the interview may go, you are already thinking of how you are going to accommodate your communication to fit what the interviewer is looking for.  You answer all the questions right, accommodating your speech to be like the interviewers and you get the job. I would argue that it is almost impossible not to accommodate communication in an interview. It is important to be yourself, but if you spoke to the interviewer the same way you speak with your best friend, you might not get the job.

            When talking about convergence of our communication styles, we must also talk about the divergence of our communication styles.  People are not trying to attempt to disagree on a subject but more of a way people choose to separate themselves from a group. This can be a way a group or person to establish their identity in the world. An example of divergence can also be seen in an interviewer and in interviewee situation. While we attempt to accommodate our personal communication style to gain favor with the interviewer, there is divergence in the status of power in that particular situation. The interviewer runs the meeting, determines the outcome and holds the power of communication, diverging communication styles. They will ask you questions about your past job history, personal goals, strengths and weaknesses and many more questions conveying they are the communicative power in that meeting.

            We all accommodate our communication styles in one way or another. It is important to remember the value in accommodating our communication to the situations that arise and the people we are speaking to. Next time you interview with someone, keep this theory in mind.