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eLearning Series: Self Confidence
How Do I Improve My Self Confidence?
( 50 articles in this series )
Self
Confidence: Multiple Intelligences
There is a learning theory
that most people outside of the area of education never hear
about. Created
by Dr. Howard Gardner, it is called the theory of multiple
intelligences. The idea behind the theory is that there
are eight forms of "intelligence" and that everyone
has strong and weak areas within these intelligences.
Those who have verbal/linguistic intelligence are adept at
dealing with the written and spoken word.
People with musical intelligence best learn and express themselves
through music, rhythm and dance.
Logical/mathematical intelligence is evident in number and
computational skills.
Patterns and logic come easily to these learners.
Those with visual/spatial intelligence have an excellent perception
of their location and/or orientation in regards to other objects
and show keen visual awareness.
Body/kinesthetic intelligence leads to excellence in the areas
of coordination and physical activity.
A person with intrapersonal intelligence is self-aware and
reflective. Interpersonal intelligence allows for good communication
and working well with others.
People who display naturalist intelligence are at their finest
when observing nature and trying to reach understandings of
their observations.
Therefore, this is fine to tell a bunch of teachers, but what
does it have to do with everyday life and especially self-confidence?
The foundation of adult self-confidence is created at an early
age. What if you spent your entire school life feeling like
you couldn't measure up? That you were never good at the things
your teachers asked you to do. It's easy to see how such feelings
could leave someone with low self-confidence that could stay
with them later in life.
Most school assignments and standardized tests
are set up to reward students with verbal/linguistic skills.
Intrapersonal
skills come into play when teachers ask students to reflect
on an experience, often resulting in a writing prompt like, "Write
about a time when you…" Interpersonal skills are useful
for group work, but with the wrong teacher, you may never get
a chance to display those skills while filling out worksheets
at your desk. Some intelligences would be useful in specific
classes, such as body/kinesthetic abilities in gym class. But
try to use those skills when it's time to read a story, and
you'll probably get sent to the principal's office.
In work and at home, having the wrong skills for a particular
situation can be just as damaging. If you're asked to take
an important client out for lunch, but your interpersonal skills
are lacking, you're likely to get in trouble with your boss
later. If you take your kids for a walk and get lost because
you have low visual/spatial intelligence, then you're likely
to feel like a bad parent.
You'll feel much better in these and similar situations if
you can take a step back and realize that you weren't being
asked to use your best skills. Maybe you should have stayed
at the office and written a stellar report that made the best
of your verbal/linguistic skills. Maybe you should have taken
your kids dancing instead because you could have called on
your musical intelligence.
Teachers who are aware of the impact of multiple intelligences
try to use this knowledge to foster self confidence in their
students. They offer assignment options whenever possible and
design activities that allow everyone to find success while
also developing skills in their problem areas.
You don't have to be in school to take to heart the lessons
of multiple intelligences. Find your skills and capitalize
on them. If you're doing what you're best at, your self-confidence
will soar. You can most likely figure out your strongest intelligences
just from reading the list of characteristics, but if you'd
like a more objective opinion, a quick search online turns
up numerous tests.
They're most likely not scientifically calibrated personality
tests, but they can be useful as a baseline reading and food
for thought. Just because you have a natural ability in certain
intelligences, it doesn't mean that you can't develop yourself
in other areas. Learning new skills and improving yourself
are also surefire confidence boosters.
The next time you have trouble at work or home, before you
let your self-confidence drop; consider whether you are utilizing
your natural intelligence to make the most of your strongest
skills.
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SolveYourProblem.com
: 2006
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