The 3 Learning Styles and What They Should Mean to You

Have you ever sat in a meeting, lecture, or class, and think to yourself, "I have NO idea what anyone is talking about, or what I'm reading about"? We've probably all been there at least once in your life. The worst part about that is how stupid we feel in that situation. You can't help but think "everyone is getting this but me." It's a horrible feeling, no doubt about it. But what if it's not all you?

The truth is everyone has a learning style. Recognizing that learning style is also critical to your professional success as well as how you function as an individual. There is no "right" or "wrong" learning style, nor does one mean you are smarter over the other. It's just how you learn. The different types of learners include visual, auditory, and tactical. What kind of learner are you?

Visual Learners. Visual learners rely on visual aids, such as charts, graphs, concept maps, or even prefer reading material at their own pace in order to learn and intake information. So the team members in a meeting, training presentation, or class that may seem like they aren’t paying attention, probably really are, but will most likely read up on meeting notes, review the presentation slides or hand outs, or study on their own time and at their own pace.

Auditory Learners. Auditory learners prefer listening and participating in lectures, class discussions, meetings, and other group projects by asking questions as opposed to reading material. Some leaders or lecturers may find that the “talkers” in the group are often the people that wait until a minute before the close of a meeting to ask 100 questions. Be patient…those are just the auditory learners that are speaking up and feeding their own learning style and habits.

Tactical Learners. Tactical learners, also known as kinesthetic learners, are doers. They are the fidgety, hands-on, “I need to just DO this” kind of people. These are the individuals that might doodle or fidget in meetings or class that others might find annoying or distracting. They are in fact listening and taking in the information, but they prefer to do it and get their hands on it rather than listen to it.

By recognizingand understanding each learning style, we just learned a whole lot more about ourselves, and maybe even our class mates or coworkers, didn't we? Now that we understand each learning style a little bit better, how does this knowledge make us better students, employees, leaders, entrepreneurs, or even parents? It allows us to tailor how we teach, speak to, or support another, be it a class mate, a friend, a child, a coworker, or a team member.

For example, you are a manager and one of your team members is Joe. Joe is a visual learner. He visits your office or calls you up and asks a question that may require some training or in-depth explanation, how do you show Joe what to do? If Joe is standing in your office or is on the phone, you can verbally explain to him what to do, and then you might follow up with an email with those same instructions after your conversation. You can also email him charts or slides from a training presentation for his review. This way, Joe, who may not have taken in every single word you said when you spoke to him, but that doesn't necessarily mean he didn’t listen, but now he has an email from you to read on his own once he tackles his task.

Those of you who are managers or entrepreneurs who might be reading this might think this is borderline micromanagement. It isn’t. It’s not about doing team members’ jobs for them, or breathing down their necks to get it done, it’s rather about recognizing individual learning styles. Just like any manager would recognize a team member’s strengths and weaknesses, this is taking it one step further and reaching a team member in the way that they learn best.

So let's go back to the meeting or class and the moment you realize you feel stupid. What was it about that environment or how the content was presented that you feel like really didn't do it for you? Maybe it was too boring to sit and listen to someone blab? Or maybe the presentation itself was too hard to see from where you were sitting. Or maybe the subject material itself just doesn't hold your interest. Regardless of the reason, just because you don't understand something or having a hard time following doesn't necessarily mean it's a reflection on your intelligence or intellectual level. It's just your learning style.

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Written content: © 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2012 J. H. Language Solutions 

Fun Outdoor Team Building Activities and Exercises

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Regardless of whether you are working with organizations in a professional environment, colleagues, or even a team of kids, everyone can benefit from team building activities. Some of the best and most fun team building activities and exercises are done outside. This gives colleagues and teams, particularly those who work or go to school indoors most of the time, a chance to get out and experience the fresh air, have some fun, and learn something new and valuable.

So what are some of these activities that you can do for your team? Some activities include simple games that involve all team members while others may be more brainteasers. All in all, it’s up to the project manager or team supervisor or manager to determine which games would be best suited for teams. You can even include team involvement to see which would be the most popular or which would be the most fun for teams.

Ultimately, teambuilding activities and exercises should reach at least several of the following common goals and outcomes, according to Out of the Square Experience:

·      Teamwork and team spirit

·      Communication

·      Leadership

·      Problem solving skills

·      Planning and goal setting

·      Cooperation

·      Team introductions

·      Establish team relationships

Why outdoors?

First off, who doesn’t like to be outside? Especially when the weather is beautiful. Human beings thrive off sunlight, which gives us Vitamin D, which is a crucial vitamin to our health. So aside from the health benefits of being outside, teambuilding activities are best held outside because they also place everyone on a solid, common ground. Outside or unpredictable events or unfamiliar territories can also resemble or relate to different business environments or structures, particularly those situations that may have decreased morale in a business or organizational setting, or that may have made team members and coworkers uncomfortable. This is why being outside also helps those involved and participating to let loose and feel more comfortable.

While most of these sound like a lot of fun, especially the “playing outside” part, the fact is, most people, regardless of age or gender, dislike teambuilding activities initially. They are one of those “ice breaking” moments that most people dread and roll their eyes at. However, prior to breaking out the activities, perhaps spend some time with teams and explain why and how teambuilding can be so effective. It’s not solely about meeting others or even playing games, it also can be a learning experience. If you were to interview or survey teams prior to engaging in a particular teambuilding activity, most would claim they are uncomfortable or dread them. However, if you were to survey the same team afterwards, nine times out of ten team members would admit to at least one thing they learned during the exercises.

All in all, when people relax and loosen up and are having fun and are engaging in activities and exercises, they are learning, developing, and utilizing new skills that can be used in the work place, in their teams, and even when working on projects or in their day to day tasks. Most of all, teambuilding teaches attitude and helps break negative attitude trends and promotes healthy communication. 

HOCKEY PLAYER IN ACTION
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© 2010, 2011, 2012, J.H. Language Solutions

*This topic was written and posted by J.H. Language Solutions on behalf of a third party.  J.H. Language Solutions in no way assumes ownership of the content above.

Staying Social in a World of Social Media

Social media is all the rave today. Who ever thought it would get as big as it is? It has even altered how we communicate with one another, how we look up information, and even the way we do business and our daily routines. But has it totally overcome our lives?

Are you addicted to social media?

 It is safe to say that many would agree that social media is addicting. When you are bored at work - how many times a day do you check your Facebook? When you are out running errands - how many times do you "check in" at certain locations? Whenever you run into someone you hadn't seen in awhile or maybe even someone you just met - how many times have you said "I'll Facebook you"? It was recorded just this month that Twitter has amounted to over 500 billion users and sees approximately 340 million tweets per day.

I think we've all been there at one point or another...or maybe even on a daily basis. But how much actual physical social interaction do we engage in now...or do we just rely on Facebook to keep up with all our engagements and correspondence? Some of you may be thinking "I interact with others every day!" That could be true, but I'm not just talking about our jobs or with our families...I'm talking about actual social interactions that involve physically talking face to face and/or engaging in outside activities with another person. These activities also don't involve having a cell phone taped to your ear or your hand. When was the last time you were able to do this? Remember, 22% of users spend their time online on social media.

• It's addicting. The fact is too much social media isn't exactly good for us. Studies have shown that spending too much online or on social media has some serious health risks. In addition to the fact that is extremely addicting and perhaps it's not the best way to be spending our time. I understand that many companies and businesses rely heavily on social media to promote their business or to keep up with competitors, clients, and partners and colleagues. In fact, I'm one of them. However, just like anything, when does it become too much? 

• It can cause depression. There are some people out there who will lock themselves in their rooms or in their homes for an entire weekend or night and just play online. This is most likely more common in younger adults or children, but this isolation is a sure sign of the beginning stages of depression. 

• It leads to decreased physical activity. In a society where obesity is such an epidemic, again, especially in children, the last thing we should be doing is sitting in front of the computer. 

So in a society where everyone and their brother are pushing you to jump on social media, what do you do about it? You can utilize social media in order to plan events that involve engaging in other human beings. This automatically reduces the feeling of isolation, depression, and decreased physical activity. Getting out into the world and doing something fun with a friend, significant other, or family member or child is definitely a more fulfilling activity than just sitting and chatting. In fact, it's not secret that human beings require social interaction with another human being. This could be interacting with another person's emotions, personality, or even just their touch or smile. Humans are social beings that require the interaction with another in order to thrive and develop healthy, social relationships.

Okay, so it's not all bad.

Social media has also helped us in many ways, especially in conjunction with technology. Social media helps you connect with people you already know or maybe haven't seen in awhile, such as distant family members, high school or college friends, international contacts, people with similar interests, etc. It is extremely convenient and easy to keep in touch with people, which is always a great thing.

Then there is the whole business world. Anyone who owns a business has probably reaped the benefits of social media in some way. Utilizing social media as a part of your networking or marketing strategy is not only easy to do, but it's extremely cost effective. You can purchase and run ads through Facebook for as little as $1 per day...and still reach potential clients and business contacts. Facebook does all the work for you. In addition, posting your blog, business site, press releases, or any other published content to your Facebook page or Twitter account is bound to get your name out there and boost your branding faster than print advertising ever could.

Getting out (and not in the social media sense).

All in all, there should really be a limit to how much social media we consume in a day...just for the sheer purpose of getting out there and getting away from the computer. For those who have jobs that involve sitting at a desk in front of a computer screen all day, do you really want to go home and do the same thing? For those who are looking for a change a pace, try getting out and doing something fun with someone else at least once per week (and again, without your cell phone attached to your ear or your hand the entire time).

Maybe you recently started a new job or moved and you don't know anyone and would like to meet someone. For those cases, there is Meetup.com. This is a great way to find something close in proximity to either work, home, or school; that is relative to your interests or hobbies; and that involves meeting others (whether for the purposes of making new friendships, relationships, or networking).

Finally, it's easy to become addicted to social media today. Everywhere you go and everything you do involves posting to Facebook, visiting an organization's fan page or "tweeting" or "posting" a status update. While we've already looked at the pros and cons to social media, there should really be a balance to social media and life.



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Written content: © 2010, 2011, 2012, J.H. Language Solutions

Friends vs. Coworkers

Let's start simple. What IS a friend? According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, a friend is described and classified as "1a : one attached to another by affection or esteem b: acquaintance, 2a : one that is not hostile b: one that is of the same nation, party, or group, 3: one that favors or promotes something (as a charity), 4: a favored companion."  If you ask me, this is rather vague. For instance "one attached to another by affection or esteem" is MUCH different than an "acquaintance". Also, is a "friend" from a particular nation, party, or group mean a group of people who are "acquaintances" that are joined together for a specific reason, organization, or interest? Therefore, can coworkers truly be classified as "friends"?

Some say 'yes', others say 'no'. It is true that a great deal of friendships have blossomed from the workplace. I know people who have been friends inside and outside of work, through life and job changes and what not, for over thirty years! I, myself even have previous coworkers that I still converse with. As mentioned above, the workplace is a group of people that do the same job and have the same interests/personality to perform a particular job. So, it's only natural that coworkers will comingle. I know there are those coworkers that everyone dreads working with. It's like the family member that you avoid seeing or that you just plain don't get along with. But overall, where we spend 7 to 8 hours per day, 5 days a week, 35-40 hours per week, until retirement, where we spend 80% of our lives, we are naturally going to find a coworker with the same interests and the same things in common.

On the flip side, those that say 'no' are at work for one reason and one reason only. Work. A paycheck. Supporting the families. Some people aren't interested in conversing with others for any other reason other than to get a job done. Totally understandable. But it's definitely much more enjoyable to have someone to talk to, to eat lunch with, or to vent to.

So that begs the question, are your friends friends? or just coworkers? It can be difficult to decide that sometimes. Some people are nervous to ask the other out for lunch or perhaps a weekend outing because it's difficult to know the other's intentions. Going out for happy hour is one thing, but visiting another in their personal home on the weekends is another. Sometimes it's difficult to know whether or not you've crossed that line or if that is something you are comfortable with. It's also a great risk to befriend a coworker and then put trust in him or her. You may think by venting to one of your coworkers it is okay, especially when your coworker is being friendly, supportive, you know, a FRIEND. The next thing you find out, that person is trashing you behind your back, complaining about you to a supervisor, and turning other coworkers against you. That is when you know it's time to cut the ties and that you really aren't "friends". I know what you are thinking...what is this, high school? Seriously. It's sad to say that some adults NEVER grow up. They have personal, childish issues that keep them from maintaining professional and plutonic relationships with others.

The line between friends and coworkers can also depend heavily upon the work environment. I've worked in environments where EVERYONE is friends. Yeah, of course, there's the drama...but people stuck together, were friendly, and sometimes even treated you like family. However, I've also worked in environments where you'd walk in in the morning and not ONE person would look up, or even say "good morning" to you and can't be bothered with mindless conversations that weren't 100% involved with work. Those environments are often cold, tense, and unenjoyable. A work enviornment also greatly depends on culture. Work environments that carry different ethnic cultures can directly affect the work environment, both positively and negatively. It also depends on the work environment's policies with exchanging personal information, interacting outside of work, or even exchanging personal emails with one another. However, it's safe to say that is varies with different industries.

All in all, it's difficult to determine what is more approrpriate: friends or coworkers. It depends on the person, the overall work cultural, environment, ethnicities, and the organization of a workplace. It's true that some work places and environments are more friendlier than others. I find that the younger the work environment, the more coworkers act like children -- in their professionalism, or lack thereof, their communication ability, and the way they mingle and interact with coworkers. So who's really to say? Most importantly, it depends on your own comfort level. You may be a social person, a people lover, or you may be more of an introvert, focused on your work only. Either way, tread lightly.