A Comprehensive Guide to Understanding and Leveraging Your Personal Learning Style

Our unique personalities, influenced by various nuances, make us who we are. Embracing these differences is crucial as they contribute vital attributes to a team that may differ from ours. Recognizing these differences in learning styles can not only help us excel as individuals but also assist in developing others.

Understanding Your Personal Learning Style

Learning styles are a combination of an individual's preferred learning modality and learning type – essentially, how one processes and deals with information. Understanding learning styles (both modalities and types) in general, and more specifically, our own learning style, can help set up the ideal conditions for learning and adapt when those conditions are not possible.

The Journey of Learning Modalities

Learning modalities are the ways in which we physically take in, process, and remember information. They include:

• Visual
• Auditory
• Kinesthetic

Initially, all people are kinesthetic learners, exploring the world through touch and taste. However, as children grow, they typically become more visual and auditory learners, processing information by what they see and hear and what they can physically touch.

While we learn to utilize multiple learning modalities in our daily lives, most people favor one predominant or preferred learning modality.

The Three Key Learning Modalities

Visual (65% of adults)

Visual learners need to read, see, watch, and observe information – their eyes are the key to learning. They prefer pictures, graphs, charts, and diagrams to make sense of information and prefer to read the text themselves rather than having it read out loud to them.

Strengths of Visual Learners:

• Preference for visual aids like diagrams, charts, and mind maps.
• Ability to remember and recall visual information.
• Tendency to organize information in a visual way.

Struggles of Visual Learners:

• Difficulty in remembering auditory or verbal information.
• Struggle to pay attention in verbal or auditory-only discussions.
• Difficulty in following verbal instructions.

Auditory (30% of adults)

Auditory learners need to hear information – their ears are the key to learning. They prefer sound and verbalization, even if it means listening to themselves talk out loud.

Strengths of Auditory Learners:

• Preference for verbal discussions and instructions.
• Ability to remember and recall verbal information.
• Tendency to work through problems by talking them out.

Struggles of Auditory Learners:

• Difficulty in processing written information.
• Struggle to focus in a noisy environment.
• Difficulty in visualizing information.

Kinesthetic (5% of adults)

Kinesthetic learners need to interact with information – their hands and bodies are the key to learning. They prefer doing, touching, and direct involvement.

Strengths of Kinesthetic Learners:

• Preference for hands-on learning and direct involvement.
• Ability to understand and remember concepts by doing.
• Tendency to excel in physical activities and tasks.

Struggles of Kinesthetic Learners:

• Difficulty in sitting still for long periods.
• Struggle to focus on auditory or visual-only information.
• Difficulty in understanding abstract concepts without physical context.

Diving Deeper: The Four Foundational Types of Learners

Learning types can be considered more of a learning "personality" than a learning style. Learning type involves organizational style, personality, and ways of dealing with information rather than how individuals process information.

Concrete Sequential

Concrete Sequential learners tend to be very straightforward and down-to-earth in their approach to life. They are particularly good at working systematically, establishing routines and processes, being in tune with expectations, paying close attention to details, and following a schedule or plan.

Strengths of Concrete Sequential Learners:

• Organized and methodical approach.
• Attention to detail and thoroughness.
• Preference for structure and order.

Struggles of Concrete Sequential Learners:

• Difficulty in dealing with ambiguity and abstract concepts.
• Struggle to adapt to unexpected changes.
• Difficulty in engaging in casual and open-ended discussions.

Abstract Sequential

Abstract Sequential learners are naturally very objective and enjoy debating. They excel at gathering data, analyzing ideas, and conducting research.

Strengths of Abstract Sequential Learners:

• Logical and analytical approach.
• Ability to see the bigger picture and connect ideas.
• Preference for objective analysis and debate.

Struggles of Abstract Sequential Learners:

• Difficulty in expressing emotions and being sentimental.
• Struggle to give others time to speak and share their ideas.
• Difficulty in dealing with restrictions and time constraints.

Abstract Random

Abstract Random learners naturally attract others because of their strong interpersonal skills. They excel at listening to others, paying attention to emotions, resolving conflicts, building rapport, and focusing on themes.

Strengths of Abstract Random Learners:

• Strong interpersonal skills and empathy.
• Ability to see multiple perspectives and resolve conflicts.
• Preference for themes and the big picture.

Struggles of Abstract Random Learners:

• Difficulty in focusing on details and providing specifics.
• Struggle to remain focused on one thing for an extended period.
• Difficulty in dealing with criticism and competition.

Concrete Random

Concrete Random learners excel at thinking fast on their feet, accepting others, discovering creative ways to solve problems and complete tasks, thinking outside the box, identifying options and solutions, and inspiring others.

Strengths of Concrete Random Learners:

• Creative and innovative approach.
• Ability to think on their feet and adapt quickly.
• Preference for exploring options and taking risks.

Struggles of Concrete Random Learners:

• Difficulty in following routines and dealing with restrictions.
• Struggle to provide formal reports and explanations.
• Difficulty in redoing work and dealing with limitations.

A Brief Recap

Learning modalities include:

• Visual – learning by seeing
• Auditory – learning by hearing
• Kinesthetic – learning by touching or doing

Learning types include:

• Concrete Sequential – organized, practical, orderly, and detailed
• Abstract Sequential – logical, rational, academic, and argumentative
• Abstract Random – imaginative, flexible, interpretive, and sensitive
• Concrete Random – daring, independent, intuitive, and investigative

Applying Your Newfound Personal Insight

Understanding your personal learning style is crucial for enhancing productivity. Here's how you can use the insight from your learning style assessment to become more productive:

1. Identify Your Strengths and Weaknesses:?Assess and identify your learning style and learning type.
2. Leverage Your Strengths:?Tailor your work environment to suit your learning style.
3. Work on Your Weaknesses:?Knowing your weaknesses is just as important as knowing your strengths.
4. Adjust Your Communication Style:?Understanding your learning style can help you communicate better with others.
5. Improve Your Time Management:?Different learning styles may require different approaches to time management.
6. Develop Adaptability:?Develop adaptability to adjust your preferred style to the situation at hand.
7. Seek Feedback:?Regularly seek feedback to understand if your adjusted work style is yielding positive results.
8. Utilize Technology:?Use technology to your advantage.

By understanding your learning style and adjusting your work environment and approach accordingly, you can enhance your productivity and effectiveness in both your personal and professional life.

Final Thoughts

Embracing and understanding our unique learning styles is not just a journey of self-discovery, but it is also a key to unlocking our full potential. It helps tailor our environment for optimal learning, address our weaknesses, and capitalize on our strengths, ultimately making us more effective in both our personal and professional lives. Reflect on your learning style and consider how this understanding can be a catalyst for growth and transformation in various aspects of your life.