I attended a session at the recent ALA annual conference in Denver, Colorado on the topic of coaching. The presentation was Coaching Attorneys to Develop Business presented by Karen Johnston of the Johnston Training Group. Karen stressed the importance of knowing a person's learning style. If you really want people to learn a new skill you can shorten the time needed to learn that skill by adapting your coaching efforts to their learning style. The visual learner learns best when he or she can see pictures or PowerPoint Slides.
Auditory learners enjoy lecture formats.
Kinesthetic learners prefer note taking or role plays or something which involves their active participation. Karen pointed out that auditory learners love coaches because they talk in order to think. They also prefer voice mail to e-mail. They don't read things and they tend to interrupt you while you're talking. She says they tend to be good marketers.