The Process of Learning

One of my particular talents as a leader is my great desire to learn and continuously improve. In my case it is the process of learning, not just the outcome, which excites me. I’m always looking for books, journals, and data to broaden my knowledge and allow me to acquire new skills. New experiences and firsthand experiments inspire me to grow and test myself. For me, a great day is one where I can find and store new ideas in the vast storehouse of knowledge I have accumulated throughout my business career.

This past week I spent two full days in Chicago attending a training event for my work as a distributor for Inscape Publishing products, the folks that perfected and sell the DiSC© behavioral system. As you can imagine the opportunities to learn were plentiful and I came home energized with new insights and a list of personal growth plans.

The workshop sessions also taught me some important lessons about how others learn. Our group of 27 distributors was diverse in many ways but also included quite a few persons who shared similar behavioral styles. These styles presented some challenges for the facilitator as she led us through a wealth of information using a variety of teaching methods.

For example, 67% of our group displayed a more dominant behavioral style. They were looking for a fast-paced, direct, and results oriented learning environment. Throughout the event they were quick to share an opinion, ask questions, and make decisions. These same persons sometimes tried to insert their ideas when it would have been more appropriate to defer and unfairly labeled others in the group.

Another 78% of the group demonstrated an influential style of behavior. They loved the social aspects of the workshop, were optimistic and creative during activities, and made many new friends. These persons were passionate, caring, and had fun while they were learning. At times they resisted the discussion guidelines and disrupted the learning with sidebar conversations.

I’m sharing these observations because I regularly encounter these and other behavioral styles in the various workshop and seminar experiences where I serve as facilitator. No behavior is right or wrong in any given situation. As a teacher I am committed to identifying these styles and using what I know about them to tailor the learning experience so that everyone is comfortable contributing to the discussion. Whether the person values a thoughtful approach, attention to detail, a focus on results, or just wants to have fun I try to accommodate their styles in the class or workshop.

For myself, I value order, accuracy, and punctuality but also like to keep things moving, ask questions, and create a competitive atmosphere. While this may seem contradictory they are the behaviors I exhibit most often and these insights have been invaluable to my professional and personal growth.

Leaders should be aware of their own behavioral styles and how they impact personal learning and the ways they interact with others in a teaching setting. If you would like to know more about the DiSC© assessment or your behavioral styles give me a call or post to this blog. Let’s keep learning together!