3.1.1 Personal learning style(s)
Not all management development activities 'fit' every individual's needs. The 'one size fits all' mentality is the very mind set that organisations are seeking to avoid in order to create management development programs that generate real competitive advantage. Not only do customised management development programs that match individual learning styles generate improved learning, but also this learning translates into an experience that impacts well beyond just the immediate goal of performance improvement. Individuals who are prepared to learn and enjoy the learning experience represent valuable human resources. Return on investment in management development is not just performance in specified areas, but also the improved capacity of the individual to learn and seek learning experiences across all work and life activities. Current thinking on capital value of all employees places a high value on the individual able to not just meet current performance requirements, but also the speed with which they are prepared to acquire the competencies associated with new work outcomes.
To identify the management development strategies best suited to a supervisor's or leader's needs, one has first to determine the individual's learning styles. The best way to do this is to complete a learning styles audit.