Most of us have a distinct learning style, usually one of four types: Visual, auditory, reading and writing and the last is Kinesthetic (a hands-on style.) I don't believe many of us respond to only one though and (generally) in my experience most people seem to learn via a combination of two or more. I'm no different. In fact for me I'd say that it's all four styles together that help me learn more rapidly.
I've learned in a self-paced/driven and autonomous way over the years and have taken instruction, formal and in formal; whilst I've been challenged throughout either process I've always felt in control and comfortable; there's rare exceptions to that although mainly it's through maintaining control (over myself) I've found I learn best.
I'd say I've been overly comfortable in my job for the last twenty years; I knew everything I needed to know and simply augmented that knowledge as things changed or new concepts developed. Being the guy who knew everything was a comfortable position and matched my management and mentor role perfectly. I wasn't arrogant with it, just confident. But my recently-acquired role is in a totally different industry and whilst people, and general office, skills are transferrable little else is. I'm like a novice...Ok, maybe not novice as I have a lifetime of skills and attributes, but in respect of the concepts around this particular industry I have a lot to learn.
When delivering training myself one of the worst things I could do was pressurise the trainee; overload them with information and tasks. Some respond to that style though and that's what makes it vitally important for a trainer to understand the learning-type of the student - failing to do so will ultimately result in poor performance of the trainer and student.
When it comes to myself I mostly respond to what others may see as an overload of information; I generally pile it on myself and whilst it feels uncomfortable I usually find that it seeps into my brain better that way; it's that uncomfortable feeling that pushes me to greater effort and accelerates the learning.
It's the middle of my first week with this company and I'll admit to information-overload but I've piled it on myself rather than the company having done that. I don't know what I don't know so clarifying those things has to be the first step - Once that's done I can determine what's most important and what can wait until a little later - prioritising my effort and learning - and saving time along the way.
I'm a very structured man when it comes to most things and for that reason tend to prioritise well; I've been doing that this week.
My company haven't put me under pressure - the opposite in fact - and I'm feeling quite comfortable that they'll allow me the time to grow and develop into the role and the industry. It's actually one of the reasons I chose this company to work for in the first place. They offer an environment conducive to learning in which I can apply self-pressure as required to gain the knowledge and understanding on my own terms. By doing that I'll develop faster and to a greater depth of knowledge and that'll be advantageous for the company.
Have you ever started a new job or needed to do some training in which you were put under duress through workload or time pressure? Most of us have I think. Feel free to tell me about it below; tell me the scenario, how you handled it and what results you gained.
Design and create your ideal life, don't live it by default - Tomorrow isn't promised so be humble and kind
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Oh I didn't know you had a new job - that was quick! Hope you find this one stimulating and interesting, and not stressful. Teh first weeks are the hardest, right, as you learn the ropes. Well done. Me? I have exactly a month. Can't come fast enough, losing my mind here!
Yeah, I decided to get back to it for a while - I got sick of all the hiking and living life my own way. Lol, not really.
Yeah you're getting close now. I bet you've got a lot planned. Can't wait to see it all happen for you.
I got into coding two months ago, I tried videos, reading, solving puzzles and it was working fine, but then I found out about coding bootcamps and how the certificate and the intense pace are a huge plus if you want to get into coding fast... got into the admission process for one, got in after tests and interview and then I started the course.
Two weeks later I was out. The pace was slow, the peer workshops left me feeling I lost 3 hours of my time (every day), the depth of each topic was shallow and not what I hoped for but most importantly, I felt like I was learning much, much more by myself.
I've been teaching myself coding since then and for about a month now and I cannot agree more with you: "maintaining control (over myself) I've found I learn best."
Since then I bought some online courses, downloaded everything I could, pinned to favs several websites and I've been learning by watching, reading, doing and writing (for my Hive posts, of course) and I can't think of a better way of doing it.
Self Pace and over control of myself all the way til the end.
I'm jealous of that incredible discipline!
Well don't be fooled, I'm nowhere near where I want to be, and it took me a long time to achieve this kind of self control, and I still lose it more than what you think :P
I relate to this as I'd be the same I think and one of the reasons is the slow pace you mention;. The thing with these courses is they have to generally cater for the slowest learner as (here in Australia) training facilities get huge government grants for minimum-level pass-rates. Most of the RTC's (registered training centres) are nothing more than money making facilities.
I've not ever been in that situation before. I don't know why that hasn't happened now that I think of it - hahaha because it totally seems like a valid thing that would happen to anyone/everyone at one time. But - I just haven't experienced it
it must be interesting to be in the position - but still feel so confident too!
it's almost like if you were able to go back in time, from an adult perspective and come into your teen years with that confidence and knowledge and be able to breathe through those experiences that were hard the first time around! hehehe
so I think I missed it (or maybe you didn't say - and if you didn't for a reason - ok!)
but - did you say what kind of job this is this time around? and - you seem like you're enjoying it (except for the gala where your RAVISHING VIRTUAL DATE is going to keep you company, make you laugh, and generally be the life of the party... (cough cough not at all, but lets pretend)
I think the years I've spent training and working simply place me well to be able to absorb the pressure and workload without breaking. Also having done it all before helps too as I know what to expect, know what measures to put into place and how to learn in the first place, as per this post.
Working under duress is what I created for myself in other to grow and be current in my dealings. I'm an electrical engineer by profession but when it comes to reading information that will help my operation I do this all the time.
I was employed as facility manager for a company with total number of 52 technicians to supervise. All these technicians have their areas of specialises and it's for me to know a bit of all their activities in other to guide and supervise well. Also, during management meetings, I can't invite any of them to the meeting to explain their operation, task or daily work and no matter the issue about the company facility of 28 storey building I must be able to provide answers to all questions.
Everyday I check through all equipments status, have toolbox talks with the team, and study on my own to deliver relevant information at all time, in the midst of this, I do my online work as community manager for DeFi (decentralized finance) project and build myself in all this area likewise.
What have I gained?
Networks: it is said, your network is your networth. When you build yourself in areas of focus, you command people to yourself and they give your respect.
Room for expansion: Sometime people believe there is level to what the brain can acquire, but the more you fill it, the more it expand and the more you are comfortable to receive more that build that brain.
Time management: Due to the list of what I must achieve in a day, time management to complete each task is my watchword which has helped me on how to deal with others.
There are many things have learnt so far, I will end it with, discovery of oneself. The moment you know who you are, step to improve will show and for you to act in other to be able to expand and grow.
Thanks for this article, I enjoyed it.
It seems like you have a good handle on processes that work for you and that probably leaves you in the position of being more productive and happier in your role. You make some great points and clearly have gained a lot from it.
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STOPCheck out the last post from @hivebuzz:
I adore understanding my own and other people's preferred learning styles. (Latest research shows we really learn and integrate best when we receive information through as many different methods as possible; i.e. reading and writing, and doing, and playing, and listening, and watching, and creating with what we've learned, etc).
Personally, my favourite and default when I'm learning new things is to listen to recorded videos. Then I can look at the screen if there's a visual that makes more sense than the verbal explanation, and I can speed it up or slow it down depending on how fast the person speaks. If I know I need to then TEACH what I've just learned to someone else I am not only far more motivated to take it in but I also understand it and retain it much better.
By employing a few different methods of learning a person can accelerate their progress and, I believe, the depth the information penetrates to; the understanding. Unfortunately school these days is more about teaching conformity than anything else and certainly no effort is put into teaching children how to learn more effectively. Just my observation though, I'm sure a school teacher would disagree.
I sometimes dream of running a school where I get to help the kids understand their own strengths and natural ways of learning and being, and supporting them to fly in ways that astound all of us. Maybe one day, when I feel sufficiently adult to do such a thing :P
This is a good thing, if only it was happening.
Well, I guess what is within our control is to do those same things for ourselves and share (as you have and I do) these same lessons with those around us willing to learn. In that way, @galenkp, we already make a difference.
Hopefully it sinks in huh?
We can only hope :)