First up, The Myth of Learning Styles. This is a fascinating read that debunks the notion that there are four main learning styles (Visual, Auditory, Reading, and Kinesthetic), that, if properly engaged, can help a learner to better interact with the materials and content to be learned. Well, it looks like learners do have a preference for learning in different styles. Those learning styles do not necessarily equate with retention or actual learning. Does that mean that we should be content with lectures? Of course not! To me, this indicates that we should still vary our delivery style to maintain engagement, if nothing else.
This isn’t a new article but it is new to me! The life of a spearfisher is highlighted in Going Rogue. I always love stories of inspiring, tough, badass women. And Kimi Werner is all of that and more–I mean, she swims with sharks. This article is a great reminder to live my own life. One of my making and choosing. I recently decided to take a leap of faith and work as a consultant to do what I love to do. It feels liberating and freeing. My trust in myself and my own instinct is growing. I love reading about the success of others in a similar boat (groan, I know, I had to!). Here is a particularly inspiring passage: “Society is seductive; it’s good at telling us what we can’t do, can’t have, can’t be. Werner intrigued me because, quite clearly, she wasn’t listening. She was thriving on her own terms, doing what she loved. She was paid well for living well, rewarded for not selling herself out. To my mind, this was success. And this made her an inspiration for anyone yearning to slip society’s leash and light out for adventure. In other words, all of us.”
Title aside, this article, Memo to the CEO: Are you the source of workplace dysfunction?, is a great read. I like it because it encourages self-reflection and acknowledgement that dysfunctions at the workplace are so rarely the result of one person. The suggestions for reflection and action are useful for anyone in a dysfunctional workplace. The author writes about power can erode empathy–we all have power in some area of our lives so examining our empathetic responses is a good nugget of advice for everyone.