Being a leader is about living your life in a way that inspires or encourages others. To lead is to serve. If you make it your goal to do the best that you can and to help people, then you can't fail. I encourage you to commit to keep learning.

This is newsletter #20 in the series. If you have missed prior newsletters, and are enjoying the series, we encourage you to take advantage of the discount offer for Mike's Leadership and Life Skills Program. Click on the coupon at the bottom of this page.

There are differences in the way people learn just as there are differences in the way they communicate. In order to improve your ability to teach or lead it’s essential for you to be aware of how you yourself learn and also how those around you do. Being cognizant of how people learn has an effect on staffing, training programs, project schedules, and the ability to meet deadlines.

Most people are visual learners, some are auditory learners, and there are those that are tactile, or kinesthetic learners.

• Visual learners think in pictures and learn best from visual displays.
• Auditory learners learn best through verbal lectures, discussions, and listening to what others have to say.
• Tactile/kinesthetic learners are people who learn best through a hands-on approach; moving, doing, and touching.
  

To be an effective trainer you need to be sure you understand these different learning styles. You can begin to recognize the differences by listening and observing responses to your attempts at communication. “I hear, and I imagine”; “I see, and I understand”; “I do, and I remember forever!”

• Some individuals may learn best by having someone communicate information verbally in a step-by-step manner.
• Others might learn best by observing someone demonstrating what needs to be done.
• Some individuals may learn best by experimenting on their own without the interference of anyone’s demonstration or verbal instruction.

When you're teaching, be sure you’re detailed and break down your instructions step-by-step. Clearly answer any questions without being sarcastic or cynical. Remember that there’s really no such thing as a stupid question!

If you find that the person you’re teaching isn’t learning or responding in the way you expect them to, then perhaps you need to try a different approach.

To be an effective leader you need to be an effective trainer. You should be able to recognize how the members of your team learn and be able to use different teaching styles that are suited to their individual needs.

We'd love to hear from you about this series, and the ways you're using it. Send us your comments and feedback by clicking on Post a Comment below. Look out for the next part in this series a month from now, and please share with your colleagues.

The above content is extracted from Mike Holt's Leadership Skills textbook.