When you are learning something new, how do you like to learn? Do you want to know the reason why it is important? Do you like to just dive in and experiment, get your hands dirty? Do you prefer step by step procedures? Or do you want to know how, or the factors that led up to this way of doing things? These are 4 very different approaches to learning, and I like to know why it is important before taking on a new project. For me to buy in and jump in whole-heartedly it means a lot to me to know the why as well as the outcome we are looking for.
Where it gets tricky is that everyone has different approaches to learning, and if I am communicating with someone who just likes to dig in and figure it out as they go (experimenter), they can get frustrated with me explaining the why to them. We tend to think that everyone learns like us, and we train and teach from our own perspectives instead of taking the time to connect with the person and ask them how they learn best. This was so enlightening to me when I learned this – my husband and business partner is a hands on learner. He would get impatient with my need to explain why, and expect me to just jump in and go, like he would.
Its almost like we are wearing different prescriptions of glasses. We often operate from the misguided belief that everyone is like us, and this is so untrue. There is no cookie cutter formula for training and developing people, and despite what we were taught when we were kids, you cannot treat everyone the same. Taking time to connect and really get to know your people by asking them the easy questions to gain insight into how best to communicate with them will pay huge dividends in building your culture and team.
* Do you want to know the reason why it is important?
* Do you like to just dive in and experiment, get your hands dirty?
* Do you prefer step by step procedures?
* Do you want to know how, or the factors that led up to this way of doing