Learning styles in coaching teams (1)

If you are leading a team, it will be important for you to recognize the learning style of your team members.
http://www.leadershipturn.com/how-to-use-the-learning-styles-in-coaching-your-team/ 

When you know how people best process information, you will then know how to best communicate with them when giving assignments, providing feedback, and motivating them to achieve higher levels of success.

Let’s walk through a couple of scenarios on how you can turn this theory into actionable knowledge.

The Visual Learner: Will respond favorably to an instruction manual, written strategic plan, visual timeline and progress charts. They will likely be motivated by the group’s charting progress to goals, a check off to-do list, or some other visual to look at so they can quickly see where they are. Feedback is best received when it is written, and the visual learner will respond well to a referral for additional reading, research, or sources of information.

The Verbal Learner: Will respond favorably to group instructions and interaction, talking things through, debating an issue, and asking questions. They will likely be motivated by frequent verbal feedback and praise, asking and answering questions, and hearing about how things are progressing. Feedback is best received when it is delivered verbally, and the verbal learner will respond well to a referral for individual coaching, tapes, or attending a class, lecture, or conference.

The Kinesthetic Learner: Will respond favorably to a demonstration of what is expected, being walked through the steps of a project, and having a chance to present their findings. They will likely be motivated by opportunities for group presentations, role playing a situation, and producing a video. Feedback is best received in a way that shows what needs to be done differently, demonstrates how something can be accomplished differently. The Kinesthetic learner will respond well to demonstrations, opportunities to do things over, or the opportunity to participate in a group presentation.

Having a little background on the various learning styles will allow you to modify your behavior and interaction with your team, thus reaching each member on their level. This will then give you the opportunity to draw out peak performances from each member. If you help each of them succeed, they will, in turn, help you succeed.

A side benefit to learning style awareness is that you may realize that the individual, who you thought was difficult, just learns in a different way than the others on the team. There’s room for everyone on a team, and each learning style brings something different to the table.

Viva la difference!