Benefiting at work from Brain Based Insights

You can be intelligent ... personable ... and learning ... but multiple intelligences, personality types, and learning styles … are not the same. Personality types are just that ... and are not multiple intelligences. Neither are learning styles the same as multiple intelligences,  but instead indicate people’s preferences about how they like to learn.

Nor should these terms be used interchangeably – as is often done in error. Why does it matter? People who confuse these terms cannot use more intelligences or identify growth in their intelligence mix. Instead their progress slows down in the fog.

There are many tests such as Myers-Briggs that help to determine personality type – and tests to identify your personal preferences or learning styles … as well. They do not tell you about your specific intelligence mix.

Multiple intelligences, however,  differ in 5 significant ways from  personality types and learning styles.

1. Your unique mix of multiple intelligences suggest how specifically you are smart.

2. Productivity comes from using more intelligences and can prevent downsizing.

3. Leaders bring stronger intelligences in some areas and weaker in others.

4. Some people believe that birth order impacts intellectual development.

5. Opportunities exist daily to develop one’s multiple intelligences.

Here are a few facts that distinguish multiple intelligences:

1. They were first introduced by Dr. Howard Gardner at Harvard University.
2. They are used and measured in business and higher education through MITA
3. Each person possesses at least eight intelligences
4. Intelligences grow and improve through daily use.
5. Intelligences become tools for problem solving in successful organizations.

Survey your intelligences to identify strengths in your unique mix of intelligences … that could increase your success at work. How many smart skills do you see operating in your circles? Or survey your workplace to see where multiple intelligences could ratchet up the bottom line. What did you learn rolled about intelligences … rolled out into smart skills at work… that could offer new dividends at competitive edges?