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We all have a capacity to learn, grow, and
flourish given the appropriate environment. We all, however, do not learn
in the same way. Some of us may sit down and read an instruction manual
or book before setting off on an unfamiliar task. Others will, instead,
discuss it with colleagues, friends, or teachers. And there are some who
may dive right in and start the task, getting the feel for it, learning
by experimenting. Some people prefer to work in an office environment,
while others prefer to be on the move, or work in a natural environment.
No one way, or style, is right or wrong.
In my many years of coaching experience I have found that these differences
in style reflect the sensory modalities which are primary to a client.
For example, I may have three clients , a writer, a musician and an artist,
for whom it is important to record there experiences and reflections
on coaching exercises by keeping a journal. I may have one journal in
traditional narrative, another in music, and the other in images, based
on the sensory modalities and learning styles that flow most easily for
them. If I have a client who loves being on the move with their body
or is athletic and is facing a block to moving forward I use an exercise
involving movement to help them move beyond their block and reach their
goal.
It is not difficult to determine which senses we are most at home with:
Visual- working with space and shape and color
- Sound- oral/linguistic
- Sound- aural/musical
- Kinesthetic/tactile
- Olfactory- sense of smell
- Taste (Yes, even this sense can be used as
a catalyst in coaching)
Think about people you know and how they describe the same thing: It
doesn't look right; It feels all wrong; That doesn't ring true.
Unluckily for many of us, our standard education system has focused
on learning using only two styles of learning. From early on in our education
we are evaluated on how we comprehend and learn through the use of language
and how good we are at manipulating numbers and logic. While some people's
top learning and conceptual processing styles may be in language and
mathematics (or quantitative processing), these are not the only modes
of learning , processing information, and engaging our environment. Understanding
our own sensory style and learning style, is crucial for enjoying our
daily activities and gaining satisfaction from our lives and careers.
Howard Gardner, a Professor
of Education at Harvard University, has done groundbreaking work in
developing the theory of Multiple Intelligences.
In his book, "Frames of Mind", he posits that there are
many 'intelligences'---many ways in which we learn and engage the
world
around us. The way in which we engage the world, our jobs, and environments
is partially dependant on what our strongest intelligences are. Gardner
posits the following intelligences:
Linguistic
Musical
Bodily Kinesthetic
Logical Mathematical
SpatialPersonal Intelligences
Another, less academic discussion of multiple
intelligences can be found in Thomas Armstrong's "7 Kinds
of Smart."
As a coach I also may assess both the client's sensory preferences and
multiple intelligences to determine which are the strongest, and whether
their current careers and future plans are in alignment with these. I
use the knowledge of my client's sensory inclinations and intelligences
in helping clients through life transitions, to careers and lives that
take advantage of who they truly are. Knowing one's strong and weak intelligences
also helps people to understand why they would or wouldn't go in certain
directions, or would delegate certain activities to others.
Do you know what your preferred sensory
style and core intelligences are? If you'd like to learn more, and investigate coaching for connecting
with these contact us for an introductory coaching session.
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