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Career Advancement

What’s Your Learning Style?

By Vicki Burger

How can your learning style influence your job satisfaction? Some management and education gurus believe strongly that learning style influences the way we learn and retain new information. Because of this, the learning options that your organization and direct supervisor provide can influence your new skills development.

But first, what are we talking about when we say “learning styles?” There are many schools of learning theory, but generally we are referring to three ways we learn.visual, auditory and kinesthetic.

Think about a time when you needed to learn a new procedure at work.

Would you have preferred someone demonstrate the new process? (visual)
Or, did you want your supervisor to just tell you how it was to be done? (auditory)
Maybe the trainer wanted you to “roll up your sleeves” and learn by doing! (kinesthetic)

Which of the examples above resonated with you? Researches say that we probably use all of these styles at one time or another. But, most of us tend to have a preferred method that helps us learn.

You may find it interesting to take a Learning Styles Inventory to get a better idea of your personal preferences. You can complete one online.

This inventory was developed by Dr. Richard Felder and Dr. Barbara Soloman of North Carolina State University. In addition to the inventory, the web site has a nice overview of the learning styles they have identified in their research and suggestions on how learners take charge of their learning.

While it goes without saying that there is no right or wrong way to learn.differences in learning styles can create a problems. What if your supervisor is accustomed to providing training by sitting staff down and explaining new procedures? For one thing, the kinesthetic learners will be climbing out of their seats. A mismatch of learning styles can cause employees to be insecure about their ability to learn new ideas or implement new processes.

As Jeanne Gourguechon of ChangePace Consultants (www.changepace.com) says, “Employees should feel comfortable selecting learning opportunities that best meet their learning style. For example, if you are a kinesthetic learner look for language such as ‘interactive workshop’ in the program description or find ways to modify the learning environment slightly such as positioning yourself in the back of the room to allow for periodically getting up and moving, etc. Above all don’t just endure a training situation!”

Here are some other suggestions for ensuring that you receive new information in a way that meets your learning style at least half way:

Identify examples of alternative training methods and suggest that your work group try one.
If you need a visual demonstration of a new procedures.ask a co-worker to show you the new procedure afterwards.
Suggest that your department or library have an in-service on learning styles. You may want to review some of the resources listed at the end of this article or the web site mentioned above.

As professional learning coach Catherine Pidek says, “It may sound simple, but what is most important is that you have confidence in your ability to learn. If you clearly recognize your personal learning style you will be better able to advocate for your own learning in the work place.”

How to Implement and Supervise a Learning Style Program
Rita Stafford Dunn

Quantum Pathways: Discovering Your Personal Learning Style
Bobbi dePorter

Index of Learning Styles Questionnaire
Barbara A. Soloman and Richard M. Felder
North Carolina State University
Raleigh, NC