Ever leave a group or a team training activity and think there was something missing for me in that delivery style? It’s possible that the content you experienced did not address the needs of the 3 different learning styles.
Visual, auditory and kinesthetic learners
Ensuring that your communication delivery covers these 3 types of learning styles will provide you with better results. This is also relevant when providing employee feedback and assigning project activities to various team members.
Visual Learners make up 65% of the population.
Incorporating pictures and graphs in all our communication and training activities will ensure that the largest representation of learners is addressed.
Visual learners prioritize their appearance, they often stand out as well dressed. They often come alive or participate more when the flip chart or white board is used. Try incorporating more visuals in your content, you may discover some visual learners responding and participating with a new level of energy.
Auditory Learners make up 30% of the population, less than half the representation of visual learners, they learn best by hearing. Our classrooms and lecture halls are ideal for these learners, where they absorb up to 70% of the information presented. Auditory learners retain information best when they are involved in group discussions and meetings. It is important for this participant to repeat what they have read or heard. In group settings the auditory learner often asks a lot of questions. Reinforcing communication by varying the pitch and tone of your voice provides a more interesting learning environment. Often auditory learners are the most encouraging in group meetings, tasks are easily performed and require very little follow up.
Kinesthetic Learners are those who need to engage in an activity or scenario to grasp a concept. While they represent only 5% of the learning population, ensuring that they are considered in communications and training design will make the biggest difference for your team’s experience. Kinesthetic learners find it difficult to sit for long periods without participating. They “check out” quickly when information and images are driving the content. Kinesthetic learners thrive in hands on and role-playing simulated learning activities.
Having a variety of learning styles makes things interesting for people responsible for training and managing employees.
When we incorporate elements of all learning styles into our preparation it allows us to relax in knowing that our important communications will not be missed. Understanding that different learning styles exist within our teams and organizations has us be more sensitive to devise innovative strategies to increase engagement and participation.