Whenever I’ve needed to get serious about studying, preparing for a speaking event, or memorizing key product information, there is only one fail safe way for me – the index card.
White or pastel, 4×6 or 5×7, lined or unlined, as long as I can use the notecard method I feel a sense of hope towards accomplishing my task.
Now take that information and hand it to me in long outline or checklist form and watch the wave of anxiety crash over me.
Same information, but different visual forms.
I am not alone, 65% of the population are visual learners. “Visual learners are often called spatial learners and, unsurprisingly, learn and remember best through visual communication. This means that using a whiteboard, projecting maps and images, or showing photos of your ideas work best.” Therefore, I need my software to adapt to my learning style. (Inc.com)
The notecard has allowed my visual learning style needs a way to assimilate the information in a form that complements my learning style. Thank goodness this now carries over to project management software. For me this is like when someone dips the chocolate in the peanut butter, a perfect pairing where one makes the other that much better.
It’s the use of the notecard function in task management software that allows for my brain to easily embrace the task list without anxiety. Tools such as Evernote, Trello and Asana enable me to easily tackle a project and collaborate with others.
But switch Asana to the list view and my eyes glaze over.
Finding out our preferred method to assimilate information helps us increase our productivity in the workplace. Even better, when we learn how our teammates function, we can increase the speed of how our teams work.
Explore learning styles through tools such as VARK that can provide insight on your learning style. This information will increase your efficiency when learning a new software, or way to tackle a project.
So, if you are in search of new project management systems or just better ways to communicate with your team, jump online and have everyone take a visual learning inventory like VARK. This information can help you prioritize the features your team needs and increase efficiency across projects.
Until next time –
Leah – Chief Mom Officer