Are you shying away from a new learning experience because you expect it to feel uncomfortable or frustrated by how it is going to be presented? When you understand how you learn and how you think, it illuminates other ways you are smart and how you are able to use your smarts in complex ways to learn new or challenging information.
We Learn and
Think Differently
Many of us are unaware of our learning and thinking style strengths and how to use them.
We all learn from experiences, observations, thoughts, and behaviors, but each of us approaches learning in a different way.
Your learning preferences distinguish your approach to the experience. Do you know the ways in which you can become smarter using your learning style strengths?
We all acquire information by listening, reading, or experiencing it in some way, and then we process it mentally. This process is thinking.
Each of us has an efficient and characteristic manner of thinking. Use your thinking style strengths to be smarter?
Though various theories have been developed to categorize intelligence, we do ourselves and others an injustice to say a person is either smart or not smart. A one-size-fits-all approach to learning, thinking or the overall power of the human brain assumes that character, attitudes, and behaviours are prearranged and carved in stone; that we cannot change qualities, intelligence, or creative ability. The fact is we are multifaceted beings who continually exercise the power of our brains and have the capacity for thinking, learning and accomplishment that does not automatically follow a blueprint.
You could throw a stone in any direction and hit someone who is not giving herself or himself enough intelligence credit. We are all smarter than we think, even when it doesn’t feel like it. Our intelligence reveals itself in such various ways that we are often not aware of the ways in which we display intelligence through a diversity of learning and thinking strengths. Sometimes, we are unaware that we have the capacity to consciously develop untapped strengths to become smarter. People lack this awareness because discussing intelligence can be uncomfortable when a person believes that it is something that we are born with and can do nothing to influence or change.
The truth is intelligence is not fixed. We can do hard things! Basic qualities, attitudes, intelligence and abilities are things we can continue to cultivate through our willingness to keep on learning and be fascinated by emerging challenges and experiences. We can get smarter, better, or more skilled at something through sustained effort.
We all learn from experiences, observations, thoughts, and behaviors, but each of us approaches learning in a different way. How we acquire knowledge, abilities, and how we develop learning strengths may be very different than how a friend or family member achieves similar capabilities. Some of us prefer lectures and discussion for learning. Others favor books, while their peers learn best with hands-on problem solving activities.
Various theories express these learning preferences. You can explore these theories in detail should the subject be of further interest to you. For our purposes, we reference "learning style" which is a term widely used to describe how a person acquires and comprehends new or difficult information to apply it at work or day to day activities. Learning style applies to people of all ages in any learning situation. Characterizing learning preferences is not an indication of how intelligent an individual may be, and no single mode of learning is better or worse, right or wrong, or more effective.
When you learn or try to understand something new or difficult, your learning preferences distinguish your approach to the experience. You acquire knowledge and understanding through your senses. All of your senses are involved in a new learning experience, but when you acquire new information or learn a difficult skill you may show a preference for one sense over another.
It is common to identify one’s preferences from these seven learning styles:
When you were young, you developed learning preferences based on several factors: parental guidance, environmental influences, instruction media, the teaching methods used at home or school, the type of subject matter, and how much you enjoyed the learning experience. As your awareness grew, you cultivated one or two modes of learning that you felt worked best for you, and you expanded numerous strengths within those learning styles. Like most adults, you probably fall back on that pattern for learning new things, for acquiring instructions for a task, for completing assignments or doing your job. Hopefully, through exposure to diverse learning and working environments you have modified your dominant pattern to include other learning styles to suit a particular task or environment, and you have acquired strengths or smarts in each style.
When you rely on using your preferential pattern, you can - to some extent unknowingly - neglect to cultivate strengths in other learning styles.
Do you rely on that preferential pattern, even when it does ot work to your advantage? If so, is it possible that you are shying away from a new learning experience because you expect it to feel uncomfortable or frustrated by how it is going to be presented? Choosing a learning experience based on how it suits your dominate pattern of learning limits or excludes you from a significant range of opportunities.
You have untapped learning strengths. We all do.
Learning styles and their strengths are more malleable than we assume. That is important to understand, because you actually learn best, reinforce that learning, and can more effectively apply what you learn when you utilize varied combinations of learning styles and strengths.
As you age and become exposed to skills or situations you can adjust your learning style patterns to acquire strengths or smarts in each style. But, you should not leave that to chance. It would be more advantageous to be proactive and devote more effort to advancing your abilities to use all your senses so you can learn in other ways, not just in your preferred pattern. Given that there is an ever-expanding realm of learning opportunities and modes of presentation, you may have little choice than to experience new ways to learn, if you want to continue to grow professionally and personally.
Boosting strengths in other learning styles provides several advantages.
Another factor that distinguishes our approach to learning and doing things is thinking style. We all acquire information by listening, reading, or experiencing it in some way, and then we process it mentally. This process is thinking. But, we sense the world differently. Each of us has an efficient and characteristic manner of processing new information which involves how we acquire knowledge, organize thoughts, formulate views and opinions, apply personal values, solve problems, make decisions, plans, and express ourselves to others.
How do we sense the world differently? You might be acutely sensitive to flashing lights; your aunt wears garish brilliant coloured clothing; your local politician only seems to grasp superficial concepts; your roommate has profound introspection; your neighbour figures out how something works just by taking it apart. Doesn't it make sense that the brains wired to these sensors cannot be the same either?
We all have unique minds. Doesn't it make sense that we differ in how we gather knowledge and assemble that information into layers of meaning? Some take an analytic approach, while others are more creative. Some think about the long-term, while others focus on the now. Some are interested in the facts and data points of every day challenges, while some tackle problems head on. Our unique tendencies are categorized into thinking styles.
Again there are various theories about styles of thinking. We lean toward simplified categories:
You develop strengths based on those tendencies, but you are not pigeon-holed into one thinking style.
You express your smarts from more than one type of thinking, typified by terms that illuminate specific strengths. Of course these terms are just a few examples, and you can use strengths such as these in many combinations.
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analytical |
inquisitive |
intuitive |
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open-minded |
strategic |
organized |
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probing |
responsive |
takes the initiative |
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systematic |
adaptable |
timely |
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coach |
explorer |
connector |
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independent |
dreamer |
realist |
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logician |
philosopher |
truth-seeker. |
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insightful |
resourceful |
process-oriented |
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critical |
theorist |
optimizer |
What career path you choose or how you might fit into an organization is largely based on what you do. This makes it much easier to understand a role or responsibility like being a team leader or project manager. But, to figure out how you think is more challenging. Yet, how you perform, influence others or develop your learning proficiencies is largely reliant on how you think as well as what you do.
When you know your thinking style strengths, you are more easily able to recognize the types of things that energize you, why certain kinds of learning experiences are challenging or boring, and how you can fine-tune the skills important to reaching your goals, solve problems, realize your full potential in any intelligence, or proactively build abilities in other thinking styles.
Understanding how you think is extremely important in determining a career path or examining how you might fit into an organization. It helps you to understand the undercurrents of forming respectful working or personal relationships. When you understand how you think it illuminates other ways you are smart and how you are able to use your smarts in complex ways to learn new or challenging information.
Zero in on enhancing strengths that are less developed, used less frequently, or that you prefer the least. Then try to useg those newly developed strengths in beneficial ways. Your smarts will continue to unfold.
Being aware of the differences in thinking style helps you be smarter in how you work with others, sharing and presenting information. Let's think about sharing your thinking style strengths in situations where you are engaged with people (family, community projects, work) to achieve common goals. It is an advantage to know who likes to work on details, who is energized by big picture strategy, who finds strategy discussions boring, or who is eager to manage the team dynamics. It is a way to ensures that the strengths of each person are utilized to build a stronger more motivated, efficient team, a smarter team.
Did you know that you produce your best work, when you utilize your smarts or strengths with purpose. Of course, this could be a grandiose purpose like philanthropy, solving global issues, or saving mankind. However, meaningful purpose should also apply to the immediate benefits you or others derive from using your various strengths in being productive.
There is a difference between being busy and being productive. Are you expressing your smarts on a daily basis? Smart people make the most of today by using their strengths in meaningful ways. You demonstrate how smart you are each time you utilize your learning and thinking strengths in a tactical manner to achieve a goal. There really is no point in learning something if it doesn't make you smarter or inspire you to improve or do something of value.
Learning takes time and time is a rare asset, which provokes many people to rush through the learning process, which is ineffective. These 4 key strengths help you to have staying power when learning is difficult.
If you are keen for self-learning you want to get the most from your experience, including satisfaction and quality education. Take charge because your achievements may be hinged on these 12 key factors.
Your brain has a soft spot for the comfort zone but it is designed for complexity and thrives on anything new, different, or difficult. It is edging for that extra push to reach its peak performance zone.
Use "SWOT" to identify your unique personal strengths and determine the workable strategies for your career development. It's a confidence builder and way to affirm you are on the right path.
Inspiration can strike when you least expect it, but that is an inefficient way to develop an idea or approach decision-making and problem solving. Instead, try one of these easy individual brainstorming techniques.
A growth mindset allows you to thrive during your most challenging times. It creates a passion for learning. You will also discover, that every limit, you thought you might have, can be exceeded time and time again.
