c


c c



c c
In today͛s society there are several learning and personality styles. It is important to know which styles
they are and how to communicate effectively and collaborate with individuals of other styles. Knowing
their personal styles and how to communicate with people of other styles is so important because in
almost all facets of life (work, home, school, etc.) they deal with people. By honing their skills to
communicate effectively with all types they can better communicate their message. When they are
successful in their communication skills it will be easier to reach goals and find resolutions to problems.
Knowing their styles and all the other styles they will be able to use effectively their strengths for the
betterment of the group. This is useful in collaborating on projects. More facets of the assignment will
be covered by using the strengths of the individuals in the group. For instance, if they have a Visual-
Linguistic learning style in their group the group may choose to have them put the information that the
rest of the group has gathered together and make final touches to wording or flow.
My learning style is Interpersonal. Being this style it is easy to see subjects from other͛s perspectives.
Being able to understand the views of others can help to create lasting relationships. It also helps me to
work well in a group environment because I can effectively communicate both verbally and nonverbally.
When they can communicate well verbally, it is easier to convey their goals and make sure that
everyone in the group has a full understanding of what is expected of him or her.
In this paper I will be discussing a few of the learning and personality styles. I will also be showing how
each different style can be used to focus on their strengths. Regardless of the kind of career we choose
in our lives, communication and collaboration is very important to our success. Whether it is with
classmates, friends or coworkers, there will be some kind of connections that require communications.
Sometimes these communications may require working in groups or teams. Even though working with
people may sometime be difficult, knowing team members learning and personality types will make
teamwork enjoyable and fun. Either way, we much have some strategies on how to improve our
communication and collaboration effectively within our group. When working on a team, we may have
strengths and weaknesses, to overcome that, we much not only know our own learning and personality
styles but also the learning and personality styles for everyone. Personality types and learning styles play
a significant role in how people function as a group. There are at least eight learning styles and four
personality types, but I am only going to describe and possibly find strategies for three learning styles:
intrapersonal, interpersonal, and logical mathematical, and three personality types: organizer, giver, and
thinker for personality types.
People with Intrapersonal learning style are those that can understand their own behavior and feelings
in which they can evaluate their own thinking. They are self-aware, very independence and they spent
most of their time alone. They can understand themselves in relation to others, can reflect on their
personal meaning of information, and they can also visualize that information easily. Communicating
and collaborating with them can be done in quiet because they love study in quiet settings, and those
information can also be keep in a journal. In my work experience, I have been a part of many teams. The
teams consisted of individuals from different backgrounds and expertise. Whether in the workforce or
the online classroom we encounter different cultures and experiences. This diversity within a team can
be challenging. But when you are working to accomplish a common goal it can be rewarding when the
team is carefully put together. Communicating and collaborating effectively within the team lead to
successful completion of tasks. Everyone does not have the same values. Everyone does not have the
same sense of urgency. Everyone does not realize the results are reflective of the entire team. Whatever
the case may be there must some understanding of different learning styles and personalities. The key
to accomplishing goals as a team is to develop strategies to utilize each member͛s strength in their
learning styles and personalities.
Learning Styles and Strategies for Communication and Collaboration
The learning styles may include intrapersonal, visual-spatial, verbal-linguistic, or bodily-kinesthetic. The
intrapersonal learner has the ability to understand one͛s own behavior and feelings. This is typically
displayed in communications. This individual is expressive, content in working alone, and may be
counted on to complete a task that requires attention to detail. The visual spatial learner has the ability
to perceive and create images. This individual is more likely to resort to images to assist with their
understanding. Their contribution to the team may include maps, charts, or graphs. The verbal-linguistic
learner has the ability to communicate through language. Writing tasks should be handled by this team
member.

Learning styles are ways that one͛s mind takes in and processes information. According to Howard
Garner, a Harvard University Professor, ͙͞There are at least eight intelligences possessed by all people
and that every person has developed some intelligences more fully than others͙͟ (Carver, Bishop,
Kravits, 2007, p. 2). These intelligences are what helps interpret one͛s unique learning style. The
impacts on communication among a group of different learning styles differs depending on the types of
learners in the group and the particular task at hand. Developing strategies to aide in effectively
communicating and collaborating within the group is key to success within the group itself. The first
step to developing a strategy for the effective communication and collaboration would be to determine
the types of learners who make up the group. Next, break down assignments in a way that each learner
can completely understand the material being presented. An example of developing this strategy
would be for a Verbal/Linguistic learner to present the material to the group verbally, which will allow
the Logistical/Mathematical learner to outline important points in his or her notes. The Visual/Spatial
learner could use the verbal material to create a chart or graph on the information or color code notes
to enable him or her to correlate the material better. ͞Poor communication can sabotage the team's
best efforts, leaving people feeling frustrated, helpless, indignant, overlooked, and ineffective͟ (Wee,
Morse, 2007, p. 6). Understanding the way each type of person learns increases the ability to
communicate effectively within the varied group thus reducing the frustration that comes with the poor
communication.