What is Kolb's Cycle?

The Basis of Kolb’s Cycle: Everyone Learns Differently

Each of us learns things in a different way.

Some people dive into action, make mistakes, and repeat, repeat, repeat, until they do things correctly. 🏃‍♀️

Others are more analytical: they take action once, then stop to think, and once the idea is clearer, they dive back into action. 🚶

Then there are those who prefer not to get involved until they have a clear idea of how things work. 💭

Which of these is the best strategy?

‍Before answering, let’s introduce Kolb’s Cycle 🤔

Kolb’s cycle suggests that learning any human discipline is always divided into four stages that follow one another in a cycle.

Here they are, one by one, along with an example using a chef:

1. Concrete Experience: This is the starting point of the cycle, where one has a real, direct experience. For example, a chef might try a new recipe for the first time, learning through direct contact with ingredients and tools.

2. Reflective Observation: After the experience, we move to the reflection stage. Here, one stops to observe what happened, analyzing the results and trying to understand what worked and what didn’t. Returning to the chef example, they might reflect on how the recipe turned out and which parts of the process could be improved.

3. Abstract Conceptualization: In this phase, one develops general ideas or abstract concepts based on what has been learned. For example, the chef might develop a theory on how to improve the recipe, perhaps by adding or changing some steps.

4. Active Experimentation: Finally, the learned and conceptualized ideas are put into practice, trying to improve and experiment with new solutions. The chef might decide to try the recipe again, applying the changes thought of in the previous phase and checking if they lead to a better result.

Individual Preferences in Kolb’s Cycle

Once we know the four stages of Kolb’s cycle, we must understand that most people don’t necessarily follow all four stages, especially not in the order presented. 🙅‍♀️

There are individual preferences that lead us to favor some stages over others. These preferences form what are called Kolb’s learning styles, which can be divided into four main categories:

1. Divergent: People with a divergent style prefer combining concrete experience with reflective observation. They are often very empathetic, creative, and tend to view situations from multiple perspectives.

2. Assimilative: The assimilative style is based on reflective observation and abstract conceptualization. People with this style tend to prefer theoretical analysis and logic over practical action.

3. Convergent: Those with a convergent style prefer abstract conceptualization and active experimentation. These people are problem-oriented and prefer to put their ideas into practice to see if they work.

4. Accommodating: Finally, the accommodating style combines concrete experience with active experimentation. People with this style are often action-oriented and prefer to learn through doing rather than through reflection or theory.

Why Kolb’s Cycle Works in Training

‍Kolb’s cycle is widely used in training because it offers a versatile approach to learning. It allows people to understand that they are not forced to always follow the same method.

For example, a person who tends to reflect a lot can learn to act more frequently. Conversely, someone more action-oriented can learn to take more time to reflect and analyze. These are fundamental skills for improvement, both personally and professionally.

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Kolb’s Cycle in Everyday Life

The beauty of Kolb’s cycle is that it can be applied in all areas of life, not just in work or educational contexts.

Have you ever thought about how you learn a new language 🈵, play a musical instrument 🎸, or even practice a sport 🏀?

Which phase of the cycle do you feel most comfortable in? Do you prefer to act and learn from experience, or reflect and analyze before jumping in?

We hope this article has helped you better understand Kolb’s cycle and how you can apply it in your life.

See you next time! 👋