8 “Smarts” to Share When Coaching, Mentoring and Leading

Key Takeaways:

• People are smart in different ways. Understanding this can allow you to greatly encourage those you coach, mentor and lead.
• Understanding the diversity of intelligences (“smarts”) can be valuable to an organization’s managers and leaders.

Have you ever had a student, employee, co-worker or even a family member say something like, “I’m just not good at ____________.” Everyone has things they’re not good at. But when we’re leading an organization, or coaching or mentoring an individual, understanding multiple intelligences theory (Gardner, 1983), a.k.a., diverse perspectives on how people are “smart” in differing ways, can be a game-changer. A simple suggestion of reframing that negative thought (“I’m not good at…”) can empower a person or team.

In 2016, Dr. Kathy Koch reimagined Harvard psychologist Howard Gardner’s multiple intelligences theory (and 1983 book Frames of Mind), basically translating it into everyday language. The supposition is that everyone is smart in different ways. Knowing about, understanding and practicing with all eight smarts helps motivation and comprehension. We must note, critics claim these “intelligences” simply represent talents, personality traits and abilities.

That said, recognizing and telling a student (perhaps one who is feeling inadequate in math) that they are still gifted—that they have “other ways of knowing”—can be powerful. Both youths and adults can learn how to use these ideas effectively. And, as people determine which smarts are their strengths, they can activate those especially when challenged or bored. Try sharing these “8 smarts” constructs next time you’re coaching, mentoring, or teaching.

1. Word smart - thinking with words:  Have these folks read things out loud that they need to remember; emphasize and even exaggerate expression and inflection to aid memory. Have them recopy/retype notes and talk with themselves about what they are writing.

2. Logic smart - thinking with questions, cause-effect and compare-contrast relationships:  Have these folks predict what questions will be on a test and then practice answering them concisely. Use numbers/statistics where possible. Analyze what’s illogical such as how a main character acted in a surprising way. Create experiments when you can, debate peers or parents to practice expressing your beliefs.

3. Picture smart - thinking with your eyes in pictures: Visualize Picture smart – draw or sketch concepts and definitions; focus and visualize what you’re studying – plot points as well as details in a list. Create displays.

4. Music smart - thinking with rhythms and melodies: e.g. how to spell Mississippi. Use rhythms and melodies to remember spelling words. Use your voice purposefully to remember how to spell words like whispering the “h” in “whisper”. Add sing-song effect to statements you’re trying to remember like the order of events.

5. Body smart - thinking with touch and movement: Facial expressions matter. Explore real objects with your hands; “sky write” words large in the air to use many muscles, use clipboards while pacing and try the motions of rocking chairs and beanbag chairs. Act out a plot point.

6. Nature smart - thinking with patterns: e.g. similarities and difference among ideas, letters, numbers, shapes, pictures. Look for patterns to activate the nature-smart part of the brain. Discover relationships and similarities among things being studied, relate learning to nature. Work or study outside.

7. People smart - thinking with other people: e.g., talking with others, brainstorming and reacting to things in groups. Use small groups, study in a room with other people rather than by yourself. Discuss topics with peers; use role play and drama.

8. Self smart - thinking with reflection deeply inside of ourselves: We sometimes think of these folks as introverts or being shy. But do not discount these deep thinkers. Help by relating learning to their lives; practice sharing information and answering questions to gain confidence.

Understanding the diversity of intelligences (Koch’s “smarts”) can be valuable to an organization’s leader and leadership team. The next time you are coaching or mentoring someone, or managing a small team, it might be worth sharing the idea of multiple intelligences with them. The simple reminder could be the spark they need to make it over any roadblocks or limitations and help them on to a better outcome, result or impact.

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Further reading:

Koch, Kathy (2016). 8 Great Smarts: Discover and Nurture Your Child's Intelligences. Moody Publishers, Chicago.