Have you ever tried to learn something fairly simple, yet failed to grasp the key ideas? Or tried to teach people and found that some were overwhelmed or confused by something
quite basic? If so, you may have experienced a clash of learning styles: Your learning
preferences and those of your instructor or audience may not have been aligned. When thisoccurs, not only is it frustrating for everyone, the communication process breaks down andlearning fails.
Once you know your own natural learning preference, you can work on expanding the way you learn, so that you can learn in other ways, not just in your preferred style. By
understanding learning styles, you can learn to create an environment in which everyone
can learn from you, not just those who use your preferred style.
Learning styles and preferences vary for each of us and in different situations. By
understanding this, and developing the skills that help you learn in a variety of ways, you
make the most of your learning potential. Thus, because you're better able to learn and
gather information, you'll make better decisions and choose better courses of action.
By understanding that other people can have quite different learning preferences, you canlearn to communicate your message effectively in a way that many more people can
understand.
Take time to identify how you prefer to learn and then force yourself to break out of your
comfort zone. Once you start learning in new ways you’ll be amazed at how much more
you catch and how much easier it is to process information and make sense of what is
going on.