Let Them Eat Cake

 

We tend to think that everyone processes information in the same way we do. If we prefer to take in new information in an auditory mode, through hearing someone explain it to us or by having a discussion, we assume everyone prefers that mode. If we learn best when the information is delivered in visual form, whether it be a written document, overheads or Post-itTM Notes on the wall, we think everyone likes to process information that way. Then there are those of us who learn best through hands-on experience and who need to be moving around in order to most effectively take in the information being presented.

The truth of the matter is that there are three sensory learning styles--auditory, visual and kinesthetic--and each of us has a preferred mode. Almost every team contains all three types, but how are most project meetings conducted? In an auditory mode. We sit and discuss the project, updating each other on the project status or talking about how to solve a problem we're facing. In the United States, less than a third of the population is auditory, so at least two-thirds of your team is either struggling to stay tuned in or they've tuned you out.

You can improve your overall performance by adding visual data. That means providing charts, graphs and written summaries. It also means recording the discussion points on flipchart paper so everyone can see what's being …

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