Issue 6: "We don't want no education!"
For many the lyrics of Pink Floyd’s ‘Another brick in the wall’ evoke rebellious feelings about education or work place development.
From boring lectures, to cringe worthy training exercises at work, or being given feedback in an appraisal, most of us have at some point wanted to learn but instead been disappointed or put off.
At work, it is now a standard part of a manager’s role to develop their people; to help them learn and grow.
So to mark with M R Dynamics’ participation at the World of Learning Exhibition recently at the NEC, this edition of Colour Bites will ask...
What can the Insights colours tell us about how different people learn, change and grow?
Honey and Mumford is perhaps the best known ‘learning styles’ model. In common with Insights, it has 4 types of learning styles; Activist, Reflector, Theorist, Pragmatist. And there is in fact a proven high correlation between the 4 learning styles and the 4 Insights colour Energies (Anne Selwyn, 2000).
So if your dominant or first Insights colour is Fiery red then your preferred Honey and Mumford learning style will be ‘Pragmatist’. (New to the colours? Learn more here)
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The learning section of the Personal Development Chapter of the Insights Discovery Profile breaks down our preferences very clearly and gives us advice our learning experience and also on how to widen our scope.
So for example... if the order of your Insight Colour Energies is Red/Yellow/Green/Blue (as is shown here) then probably it will be practical action, quick thinking and involvement that gets you the most results for you in a learning environment.
While we are all different a couple of things are clear:
1. We learn effectively when our learning style is being matched. We are able to get into flow and be relaxed and creative.
2. Also being taken out of our comfort zone can be one of the most powerful and long lasting ways of learning. Done well you can really shake people up and give incredible new confidence and insights.
But be careful!! When people feel threatened, in danger or humiliated they only remember that they hate training!
As such it is very useful to understand what is inside of peoples' 'colourful' comfort zones and what is outside!
Here is a quick guide to how to best use the Insights colour energies to build effective learning strategies for yourself and the people whose development you are supporting.
If is someone’s preferred style is Fiery Red , they like to...
• Involve themselves in short sharp sessions
• Are constantly making things happen
• Need the opportunity for trial and error
And they can stretch by...
• Taking more suggestions into consideration
• Facilitating discussion rather than feel the need to take the lead
• Digging a little deeper
If is someone’s preferred style is Sunshine Yellow, they like to...
• Are open and enthusiastic
• Learn with and through interaction with people
• Are drawn to new experiences
And they can stretch by...
• Taking a more disciplined path
• Challenging own assumptions with evidence
• Going deeper into a topic before moving forward
If is someone’s preferred style is Earth Green , they like to...
• Use past and present evidence
• Like to observe/reflect before acting
• Seek a variety of inputs
And they can stretch by...
• Trying it out!
• Experimenting
• Moving quickly forward and not be held back by the past
If is someone’s preferred style is Cool Blue , they like to...
• Think logically through a problem
• Go deep into information from proven sources
• Complete stage one before stage two
And they can stretch by...
• Remembering Orval Wright didn’t have a pilot’s licence
• Discussing new ideas freely and positively with people
• Challenging your accepted view
In conclusion; when developing yourself and others remember that one size does not fit all!
- Give yourself and others high challenge but with low danger!
- Honour and value differences, and adapt wherever you can.
And if you have any questons about this topic, or any other topic covered in our work please do get in touch via the email below.
Plus....... ******Profile Offer*******
Have you had an Insights Discovery Profile from MRD?
Then get your free additional 'Personal Development' Chapter. Chapter includes personalised feedback and suggestions:
- Living on Purpose
- Time and Life Managment
- Personal Creativity
- Lifelong Learning
- Learning Styles (as shown above)
Just email marcus@mrdynamics.com and we will create it for you and send it over!
“It all depends on how we look at things, and not how they are in themselves.”
Carl G Jung
"I got different strokes for different folks"
Cassius Clay, 1966
Best regards
Marcus
Director
“Every advance, every achievement of mankind, has been connected with an advance in self awareness.”
C. G. Jung, Psychological Reflections
M R Dynamics Ltd is a leading licensed Insights Discovery Distributors of Insights Discovery Profiles and Training.
We work with organisations to improve business performance through developing skills, attitudes and capabilities.
Each month we would like to introduce to aspects of our work.
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