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Training Employees With Different Learning Styles

Training Employees With Different Learning Styles

In this article, we’ll explain how to identify common learning types and how you can train your employees in an engaging way.

Training Employees With Different Learning Styles

Have your employees lost interest in training? Do they view it as more of a requirement than an opportunity? Trainers and HR managers understand the value of practical learning programs. Employees are more prepared in their roles, with a better chance of career growth and satisfaction.

However, it can be challenging keeping employees interested during training sessions, especially when only 13% of employees worldwide feel engaged at work. If your training program exclusively caters to an individual learning style, you’re not appealing to the masses.

Employees retain information more efficiently when training is tailored to different learning styles. Furthermore, they improve their skill sets and are more satisfied with their roles. In this article, we’ll explain how to identify common learning types. We’ll also talk about how to create a tailored training program that engages your employees.

What are the Different Types of Learning Styles?

The top three preferred learning methods are visual, auditory, and kinesthetic (also known as tactile). To understand the differences between these learners, view our example below.
Training Employees with Different Types of Learning Styles

How to Identify Different Types of Learners

To get the most out of your training process, start by determining your employees’ learning styles. There are two ways to do this:

1. A Learning Style Assessment

Before training, send your employees a learning style assessment to complete. Then, you can determine what adjustments to make to your training process and how to utilize existing content.

2. Observation During Training

Another way you can identify different types of learners is through observation during an employee’s initial training. Take note of how different employees engage with the content taught:

Visual Learners

Visual Learners will most likely take notes during the discussion and daydream.

Auditory Learners

Auditory Learners might orally recap some of the discussion, so they can process what they have learned.

Tactile Learners

Tactile (Kinesthetic) Learners might create a chart or graph to remember the discussion. They will engage most heavily in quizzes and games.

Identify your workforce’s prevalent learning styles to determine how better to engage your staff for a more effective training program.

Ways to Engage Different Learning Styles

Utilizing different engagement methods allows you to accommodate learning styles for a better training experience. This approach is helpful if you are conducting virtual training for employees who work from home. Here are some examples of different learning and development tools that provide an optimal experience for visual, audio, and tactile individuals:
Learning Style
Tips for Engagement
Visual: 65% of Learners
‣ Train using live videos and webinars for a face-to-face experience.
‣ Provide slideshows with maps, charts, and graphs that showcase information.
‣ Create concise content with engaging graphics to increase participation.
Auditory: 30% of Learners
‣ Provide recorded training sessions for review. ‣ Engage in Q&A sessions to test their retention. ‣ Utilize podcasts as another means of content distribution.
Tactile: 5% of Learners
‣ Use a learning management system that allows them to perform tasks.
‣ Provide interactive quizzes for a more hands-on approach.
‣ Engage in roleplay that allows them to act out concepts.

Creating an Enjoyable Learning Environment

When leading training sessions, it’s essential to use teaching methods that incorporate individual learning styles for better engagement. This approach ensures you keep everyone’s attention and create a more enjoyable training experience.
You may find when identifying your staff’s learning styles that some of them comprehend information in a combination of ways. One teaching method that can be effective in this situation is experiential learning. This process is designed for individuals to learn through experience, so various learning styles are engaged. Apply this training approach in the following ways:

Visual Learners

Experiential learning features stories with vivid details. Visual learners can picture desired behaviors introduced to them in training.

Auditory Learners

Discussion and dialogue are an essential part of experiential learning. Audio learners can learn by hearing how others analyze and apply newly acquired behaviors.

Tactile (Kinesthic) Learners

Since these types of learners enjoy a hands-on approach, experiential learning is a natural fit. Tactile learners engage in immersive activities that mimic real-life situations and are relevant to the workplace.

This mixed training method engages multiple learning styles, leading to better comprehension, retention, and efficiency.

Tailored Training for Sustained Growth

It’s essential to hold employees to specific performance benchmarks for a productive environment. However, if you don’t provide training and career development opportunities, you’re stunting their growth. 40% of employees who don’t receive the necessary job training will leave their positions within the first year. Therefore, it’s crucial to account for different learning styles as there is no “one size fits all” approach to training. Aim to have a greater understanding of your employees’ perspectives, work habits, and learning styles. You can then tailor your training program to optimize employee satisfaction and engagement.
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