How Does Your Learning Style Impact Coaching?

Posted on March 28, 2021 by Sharon Davis Brown, One of Thousands of Executive Coaches on Noomii.

Have you ever asked yourself what your learning style(s) might be? One way to achieve your goals is determining the best way that you receive information, also known as your learning style.

You may not know what your learning style is yet. A coach like Dr. Brown can help you identify your learning style and match you with a complimentary coaching model. It is important to understand your learning style because it may impact the effectiveness of your coaching sessions.

When you have identified which learning style is the most successful approach for you, your progress can grow exponentially. For best results, Dr. Brown suggests that clients choose a coach whose model matches their learning style.

What Is a Learning Style?
A learning style defines how you learn best. There are three broad types of learning styles.

A visual learner acquires knowledge through means like reading, writing, or visual observation.

Visual learners excel when watching tasks being done, or observing visual media like videos, posters, or graphs.

An auditory learner acquires knowledge through lectures, music, and listening with focused intent.

Auditory learners acquire skills by listening to auditory media like podcasts or radio, having things explained to them, or engaging in conversation.

A kinesthetic learner acquires knowledge through physical activity like exercise, dance, yoga, or manipulating things with their hands.

Kinesthetic learners gain skills through physical interaction to help the brain remember patterns.

Traditional Assessments vs. Somatic-Based Assessments

Traditional coaching assessments use psychometric assessments to determine your personality type or preferences. Some traditional assessments include Myers-Briggs, Enneagram, and Leadership Circle 36. Coaches who use these styles of assessments usually use a traditional visual and cognitive (thinking) model of coaching. These types of assessments do not identify learning styles, which can result in coaching engagements that do not meet the needs of their clients.

Dr. Brown employs somatic-based assessments that identify her client’s learning styles. This provides a major advantage over traditional assessments. Somatic-based assessments allow Dr. Brown to tailor her client’s coaching sessions to the way they learn best. Dr. Brown can provide more targeted coaching interventions using this model compared to traditional coaching methods.

Neither model is better than the other, but understanding how you learn best could enhance your coaching sessions.

Why Is Knowing My Learning Style Important?

When being coached, your coach should use methods that match your learning style. A mismatch can cause the coaching engagement to be frustrating and unproductive for both client and coach. Ideally, the coach will be able to identify and adapt their coaching intervention to promote change using your learning style.

An illustration to show your learning style may appear something like the following:
“I see what you are saying” may imply a visual learner
“I hear what you are saying” may imply an auditory learner
“I grasp what you are saying” may imply a kinesthetic learner
Phrases like these can assist the coach in determining your learning preferences. Other key indicators will become noticeable during an initial coaching session.

Your coach should understand your learning style or there could be a significant barrier that interferes with the coaching relationship. If your coach explains things in a way that does not match your learning style, you are unlikely to retain and integrate the information. If you have had trouble connecting with previous coaches who use traditional methods, a somatic-based intervention may be more effective for you.

Art of Business Coaching offers several trainings designed for specific learning styles.

Do You Want to Learn More About Learning Styles and Coaching?

Art of Business Coaching provides coaching services that are personalized to your learning style. If you want to learn more about learning styles and how they impact your coaching experience please contact us at sd.brown.abc@gmail.com or through our contact page for a free 30-minute consultation.