The Importance of Testing Learning Styles
How to grow and develop your talent through learning styles
The Importance of Testing Learning Styles
No One Model Fits All When It Comes to Learning
Learning styles and methods have been around for decades, and represent research and opinion on different learning style methodologies. Sometimes learning style theories are critiqued, but one thing is certain - learning style research and development improves over time.
Research has shown that when it comes to learning and styles or methods for acquiring new information, there is no one size fits all. Some of us are kinaesthetic, while others learn through watching, reading and research. But not only that, some of us learn through tests and fail, while others need concrete data before taking a plunge. Those who make decisions/acquire information based on instinct and a thirst for taking the plunge, acquired this ability over time through years of experience. For example, - Malcolm Gladwell, Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking “being able to act intelligently and instinctively in the moment is possible only after a long and rigorous of education and experience.”
In a nutshell, learning comes in all forms and of course, styles. This is in essence, why businesses need to understand the importance of testing learning styles across their talent pools.
Bucketing Learners is Just the Beginning
Most learning styles “bucket” learners into ‘types’, however there is the risk that once you have identified the type of learner you have, that it sets a benchmark for how all individuals learn within that style range.
However, for perceptive businesses, creating learner types, is simply the beginning of developing a robust training and development plan; one that can drive the most growth out of their employees talent and for their business.
There is where learning style questionnaires such as the Honey and Mumford can help businesses develop their talent to achieve their learning and career goals. Taking these insights, HR and People Management teams can work to tailor learning experiences and resources to their talents specific learning style.
Testing Learning Styles Creates Business Benefits
Creating Diverse Talent Teams
By testing learning styles, your business can create diverse talent pools with learner types that compliment each other. For example, some individuals require proof/evidence through data, others need to explore and take a leap of faith.
Feeling Appreciated and Understood in Their Learning Requirements
An obvious benefit for businesses is the importance of talent feeling appreciated and understood in how they learn within the business. In a recent survey, CIPHR found "79% of UK adults feel stressed at least once a month". So, with employee retention more important now than ever, organisations need to leverage our ability to test learning styles and grow training programmes that complement and support those individuals and encouraging them to grow.
Quality of Output Grows for Your Business
Without understanding proficiencies for learning, businesses are missing out on better outputs for their business. Take a reflector learning style, who will typically prefer to be briefed first, these types are likely to read and research about a new way of thinking or working before reflecting on the information acquired and then making a recommendation. This ability to think critically allows for a quality approach to new working processes, that improve day-to-day operations in organisations looking to innovate and improve.
Mapping Your Teams Learning Styles
To help grow and develop their talent pool, businesses use the Honey and Mumford Learning Styles Questionnaire to identify learning styles within talent pools and better map out career paths, department resources and identify gaps that may need to be filled within their talent pool. This allows businesses to build teams that are tailored to business needs and working in specific ways/towards differentiating goals. Taking this approach is a different management style and one that is focused on talent needs for growth and development as much as it is for commercial growth.
To learn more about the Honey and Mumford Learning Styles Questionnaire and how it could be of benefit to your business, please visit our Honey and Mumford LSQ assessment page, or contact us to find out more.