Which type of learner are you?

Think back to the last time you had to master something new – a client presentation, a software tool, or a leadership skill.

How did you approach it? Some of us dive straight in and learn by doing, while others prefer to read, observe, or listen first.

Understanding how we each learn is one of the most underrated skills in professional development.

Whether you lead a team or work independently, knowing your own learning style – and those of the people around you – can make collaboration, communication, and growth far more effective.

The 7 learning styles at work

Just like in school, there are seven main ways adults process and retain information.

Most of us blend a few of these, but one or two tend to dominate.

1. Visual: You understand concepts best through charts, slides, and visual frameworks. You remember what you see.
2. Physical: You prefer hands-on practice – testing, building, experimenting. You learn through doing.
3. Verbal: You process ideas by talking or writing about them. Notes, summaries, and discussions help things click.
4. Aural: You retain information through sound – podcasts, audiobooks, voice notes, or even background music.
5. Logical: You like data, structure, and clear systems. You learn through reasoning, patterns, and analysis.
6. Social: You thrive in group settings and collaborative learning. Workshops, brainstorming, and feedback energise you.
7. Solitary: You prefer independent study and reflection before sharing ideas. You learn best in quiet focus.

Left brain / right brain thinking

The old left-brain/right-brain theory still offers useful shorthand for how people approach work. The 'left-brain' professional is analytical, practical, and detail oriented.

They think in systems and focus on outcomes. The 'right-brain' counterpart is intuitive, creative, and big-picture. They think in stories and possibilities.

Neither approach is better - but understanding which dominates your thinking can help you balance teams, plan projects, and design learning experiences that engage both logic and imagination.

Personalised learning in the workplace

In any team, you’ll have a mix of learning styles and thinking types. A presentation that excites one person might overwhelm another. A written manual might suit your logical learners but lose the visual ones.

That’s why the best workplaces build learning experiences that appeal to multiple styles – combining visuals, discussion, practice, and reflection.

When training or onboarding, give people options: let them watch, read, listen, or try.

Learning isn’t one-size-fits-all. Once you understand how you and your team absorb new information, you can adapt your approach to make it stick and see faster results.

If you want to go deeper, try assessing your team’s learning styles. It’s a powerful tool for improving communication, productivity, and engagement because the more we understand how people learn, the better we lead.

You can do this with the help of Tick's personality tool.