The many minds we work with
Understanding Learning Styles, Operating Preferences & Neurodiversity in the World of VA Support
At The Virtual Colleagues, we don’t just support business owners — we tune in to them.
Every client has a unique way of working, thinking, processing, and communicating. Some are hyper-organised spreadsheet lovers, others are chaotic geniuses who get 75 ideas in 5 minutes. Some respond to a checklist, others to a 2-minute voice note. And some just need us to sit beside them (virtually or literally) and walk through it, step by step.
Here’s a closer look at the different styles we come across and how we adapt our VA magic to match.
Learning Styles: How People Process Information
Auditory Learners
These clients think by talking things out. Voice notes, calls, walk-and-talk meetings — that’s their jam. They're the ones who’ll say, “I never emailed it, but I definitely said it.”
How we support them:
Regular accountability calls
Summarising key actions after every conversation
Voice note comms over long emails
Real-time brainstorming
Read/Write Learners
These are your list-makers, journalers, and note scribblers. They love written instruction and feel grounded by it. But watch out — some write lists they never look at again.
VA tactics:
Clear, bullet-pointed email comms
Shared docs and SOPs
Helping them prioritise what they've written (not just write it)
Converting their scribbles into action
Visual Learners
Think: diagrams, colour coding, Asana boards with emoji labels. If it’s pretty, visual, and clear — it’ll land better.
Our visual support:
Flowcharts and process maps
Colour-coded task boards
Icons, infographics, and visuals
Inbox declutter: tags, flags, and categories
Kinesthetic/‘Doers’
These are the action-first thinkers. They remember by doing, not watching.
We match their energy with:
Screen-share walkthroughs
Real-time implementation calls (“Let’s do it now, together.”)
Accountability nudges (“What are we actioning this week?”)
Letting them drive, while we navigate
Operating Styles: How People Work Day-to-Day
Some people want deep collaboration. Others prefer to “hibernate” and pop back up when they’re ready. We’ve seen it all:
The Collaborator: Wants live co-working sessions. Loves feeling like we’re a team.
The Lone Wolf: Give them a to-do list and leave them to it.
The Overwhelmed Thinker: Needs short, mid-week check-ins (not Monday madness).
The Chaotic Creative: Full of ideas, but needs SOPs and structure (without being caged).
We adapt by:
Matching check-in cadence to their energy
Creating their systems for them if decisions are too much
Offering structure but with flexibility
Changing tone based on their mood (chameleon-style!)
Neurodiversity: Support Without Forcing ‘Normal’
Working with neurodivergent clients (ADHD, Autism, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, etc.) means throwing out the “one-size-fits-all” rulebook.
ADHD clients might:
Hate lists but love quick wins
Verbally process ideas (and change their mind by the end of the call!)
Get overwhelmed by long emails
Be energised but easily distracted
Autism might present as:
Needing predictability
Finding chaos and change overwhelming
Wanting clarity in communication
Masking — they seem “fine” but aren’t
Our neurodiversity toolkit includes:
Voice notes over emails
Action-focused note-taking
“Talking it out” sessions without judgement
Creating systems with or for them depending on fatigue levels
Asking for professional reports (with consent) to tailor our support
"It’s not about teaching them a new way. It’s about creating a way that works with their brain, not against it.” – TVC Team Call
The VA Advantage: Adaptability is the Superpower
Our team summed it up beautifully in the call:
“VAs are like chameleons. We change our style from one client to the next. One minute we’re direct, the next we’re gentle. It’s about understanding what they need, not just what they say.”
At TVC, we don’t just manage tasks — we manage relationships. We observe body language, read between the lines, clock their family chaos or energy dip, and pivot accordingly.
Because no one style is ‘right’. They’re just human.
Final Thoughts: Know Thy Client, Be the Guide
Whether someone processes best by hearing, seeing, doing, or scribbling — the key to effective VA support lies in observation, conversation, and honest connection. It’s psychology, empathy, and a whole lot of practical magic rolled into one.
So if you’re a business owner thinking, “God, I’m a nightmare to work with” — you’re not. You just haven’t had someone who gets how you work yet.
We do.
