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“What Type of Bird Are You?”

episode #734 –  June 16, 2022

GUEST: Benjamin Bressington

Not everyone thinks like you. The trick is to learn to communicate in their style. 

Benjamin Bressington

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The Conversation

Whether you’re trying to hire a new person, work with an agency or close a sale, the very first step is really figuring out if you’re sitting across the table from the right person.

The problem is that people don’t come with scorecards telling you exactly who they are and whether or not they’re a good fit, or do they?

Social engineer, Benjamin Bressington says there is a scorecard, if you look for it.  In this episode, he boils down people into four  main types, each with a set of communication patterns that give you insight into how they think.

Learn how to find the answer to that important question.  Am I talking to the right person?  

  • Most communication breakdowns in hiring or sales happen because we speak from our personality style, not the other person’s.

  • People generally fall into four core personality types, each represented by a bird:

    • Eagle: Direct, driven, goal-focused

    • Peacock: Charismatic, attention-loving, social

    • Pigeon: People-pleasers, indecisive, emotionally intuitive

    • Owl: Analytical, methodical, facts-first thinkers

  • Certain personality types naturally clash. Recognizing this ahead of time helps you avoid missteps and missed opportunities.

  • With the right tools, like behavior-based AI, you can identify someone’s communication style before the meeting even starts.

Takeaways

  • Know your own style. Are you a visionary peacock? A no-nonsense eagle? Self-awareness is your first step toward better communication.

  • Adjust your pitch. The same sales approach won’t work on an owl that works on a peacock. Speak their language—not yours.

  • Use AI to your advantage. Tools like BehaviorSales.com analyze language patterns in emails or LinkedIn profiles to reveal a person’s dominant personality traits.

  • Build balanced teams. Don’t just hire people who think like you. Seek out your opposite to cover your blind spots.

  • Practice people reading. Every conversation—client or coworker—is an opportunity to tune into behavioral cues and tailor your approach.

our guest Benjamin Bressington

Benjamin is a Speaker and Author of multiple books. With the latest book “People Ignorant: Unlocking Success, Confidence & Influence.”
 
Ben has a Law & Criminology degree from Australia. Ben spent 10 years helping Fortune 1000 companies apply gamification principles to their sales and communication process. And now spends his time helping people improve their sales conversations. Specifically helping people to close deals faster and discover the hidden opportunities in our daily communication.
 
If you have ever wanted to connect with people more authentically or understand the real meaning of what someone is saying. Benjamin cycles on average 150 miles per week when he’s not designing algorithms for persuasion.