-by Sally Whitesell for Auto Success Magazine.
Are you conducting training sessions without getting results? Are you having problems getting your team to retain information and effectively implement your processes? If you answered yes to either of these questions, you may not be presenting material in a way that triggers the memory banks of 90% of your team. Keep reading! I’ll share information that will teach you to make your sessions more dynamic and engaging for 100% of your team so they really pay off!
Training is not one size fits all.
Everyone has in a dominant learning style, yet most training sessions are merely discussions, reprimands and directions. If this sounds familiar, you are missing critical elements that will stimulate each individual and lead them to much more successful learning. In order to do this, we must get familiar with the three main styles of learning. Keep in mind that no one is 100% one style, but each person will have a dominant method.Visual learning is the most common method. Over 70% of people tested and surveyed by several leading learning institutions were found to comprehend and retain information much easier through visual stimulation. This group will need to watch someone perform a task or see a great illustration to gain a full understanding and stay engaged. Visual presentations will not only help them learn faster, but they will be able to retain more of what is being presented. If you ask a visual person to recall a situation, their brain will begin to process images, not words. This is why it is hard for a visual learner to retain information and details through listening. They need the visual images for their brain to latch onto and store for future reference. Simple discussions will not provide enough images to get long-term results.
In order to stimulate learning and retention, use vibrant visual aids like flip charts, videos, and animated power points. If you’re going to hand out reading material, make sure to include simple illustrations so they have a picture they can recall when needed. Encourage them to take notes and make sure they always have a clear view of the speaker. Have someone perform the methods or tasks being presented so the visual learner can see what is expected.
It is easy to identify a visual learner. They will watch you intently and ask for demonstrations. They will try to make eye contact so they know you are listening because to them, eye contact is the only way you can hear.
Training an auditory learner is the easiest of the groups, but it isn’t about just listening to you talk. They also need to hear themselves. It is very helpful to let them repeat points back to you or read aloud. This will help them retain the information.
Keep in mind that this group has a very hard time with eye contact, so don’t assume they don’t care or aren’t listening if they aren’t looking at you. They simply rely on hearing and may even lean in to hear better.
This group also attaches their emotions to most scenarios. It is important that they “feel” what you are presenting either physically or emotionally by relating to your stories and illustrations. It will be extremely important to connect with these individuals.
I have given you a few clues regarding how to observe and evaluate each of your trainees, but if you are still unsure of someone’s learning style, just ask. Most people know if they respond better from watching, listening or doing. In order to have effective training with long-term results, it is critical that you use methods that will stimulate the memory banks of all three styles. As a professional trainer I would like to give you a few additional suggestions.
We all know how limited our time is in the Fixed Ops world so use this information to develop the most effective meetings so each learning style can walk away with a memory bank full of great methods they can implement with ease. If you don’t have the time, hire a professional. A little extra effort and planning will really pay off!
Sally Whitesell is President of sw Service Solutions, which offers in-store training nationwide and Fixed Ops University; engaging online training for managers and service advisors. Sally brings over 21 years of on-the-drive experience to her training, seminars and books, which include her highly sought after “What Drives Women?” program and her book, “Words That Sell Service.” And new for 2019: the ultimate sales tool: the sw Service Solutions Maximizing Menu.
© 2025 Created by DealerELITE.
Powered by
You need to be a member of DealerELITE.net to add comments!
Join DealerELITE.net