Discover your own learning style, as well as the styles of people you do business with to enhance communication and give you a distinct advantage in the business world.

These 10 Tips help you identify a person’s learning style so whether you’re trying to get an appointment or make a lengthy presentation, you’ll get results and not blank stares.

1. Picture This –Visual-spatial learners think in images and have a difficult time remembering information simply by listening. In addition, they tend to be big picture people who learn concepts all at once but might miss the details, are creative and out-of-the-box thinkers. Many entrepreneurs process information this way.

2. Hear This – Auditory-sequential learners think primarily in words and do well with step-by-step instructions. They have good memorization skills, can follow verbal commands easily and tend to be more analytical and organized.

3. Self Help – First identify your own learning style. While most people are auditory-sequential learners, it’s now estimated that about 1/3 of people are visual-spatial learners. We all have the ability to use both sides of our brains, but like being right or left-handed, are also born with a preference for right and left-brain processing. Get more information and self-tests at www.visualspatial.org. This site focuses more on children, but the learning styles and personality traits in the test apply to any age.

4. Please Apply – Use the information gained about learning styles to recognize that not everyone processes information in the same way. Begin to look for clues about a person’s learning style so you can adapt your conversation and presentation skills for the best impact.

5. Double Duty – Think through ways to present your information to people of either learning style, and be prepared to switch gears depending on what you deduce. For example, if you have a presentation with a lot of images and find the recipient is quickly bored, transition to a primarily verbal interaction following a bulleted list of highlights. Conversely, if you are explaining a product or concept and the recipient seems lost, have a picture or product sample available to provide visual clues. If a style change doesn’t seem to make a difference, there are probably other issues at stake.

6. Ordered Disorder – If an office seems cluttered there’s a good chance you’re talking to a visual-spatial learner. Other things to note: is there a lot of art on the walls? Music playing? Tactile/play objects on the desk? Visual-spatial learners tend to be more creative, artistic and enjoy doing other things while conceptualizing, like doodling, listening to music and squeezing a small stress ball. Don’t be quick to judge, but be prepared to use a lot of visuals and concepts to get your point across. Conversely, if the office is neat and organized, you’re probably with an auditory-sequential learner and may have better success with a methodical, step-by-step presentation.

7. Perfect Timing – Although being on time for appointments is standard professional behavior, try to be flexible when others are a bit late, since it’s much more difficult for visual-spatial learners to work according to the clock. If you are a visual-spatial learner (and many entrepreneurs are), note that many people you do business with will not be aware of or care about your learning style and tendency towards lateness, so be doubly prepared to arrive on time. Pack your briefcase the night before with everything you will need, including presentation materials and directions, and put it on the table or by the door. Also, make sure your car has enough gas and you have money for things like tolls and parking.

8. Mass Appeal – When presenting to a large group where people with both learning styles will most certainly be present, incorporate ways to get your point across to everyone. Include plenty of visuals and give an overview before each major section so the visual-spatial learners get a sense of the big picture. For the audio-sequential learners, present the information in a step-by-step, sequential manner. Strike a balance between ordered information and visual clues and don’t go on too long without a visual break, even if it’s a story that helps create a picture in your audience’s mind.

9. Questions Count – Take cues from the person’s comments and questions, and be sure to ask your own questions to confirm the person is grasping the information. As with every interaction, you learn a lot more by listening, so pay attention to what someone tells you and what they seem confused by. Feel free to ask, “Does the way I presented this make sense?” but don’t ask in a way that puts the person on the defensive by saying things like, “Do you understand?” or “Is this clear?” Put the onus of understanding on you.

10. Two Punch – If you have a product, bring a sample for the person to see and touch as well as visual marketing tools like brochures and flyers. In addition, bring some step-by-step instructional and educational tools like lists of product advantages, unique ways to display or promote the product and industry trends.