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Leader’s Self-Insight 4.4 Getty Images

What’s Your Thinking Style?

The following characteristics are associated with the four quadrants identified by Herrmann’s whole brain model. Think for
a moment about how you approach problems and make decisions. In addition, consider how you typically approach your
work or class assignments and how you interact with others. Circle ten of the terms below that you believe best describe
your own cognitive style. Try to be honest and select terms that apply to you as you are, not how you might like to be.
There are no right or wrong answers.
A B C D
Analytical Organized Friendly Holistic
Factual Planned Receptive Imaginative
Directive Controlled Enthusiastic Intuitive
Rigorous Detailed Understanding Synthesizing
Realistic Conservative Expressive Curious
Intellectual Disciplined Empathetic Spontaneous
Objective Practical Trusting Flexible
Knowledgeable Industrious Sensitive Open-Minded
Bright Persistent Passionate Conceptual
Clear Implementer Humanistic Adventurous
The terms in Column A are associated with logical, analytical thinking (Quadrant A); those in Column B with organized,
detail-oriented thinking (Quadrant B); those in Column C with empathetic and emotionally based thinking (Quadrant C);
and those in Column D with integrative and imaginative thinking (Quadrant D). Do your preferences fall primarily in one
of the four columns, or do you have a more balanced set of preferences across all four? If you have a strong preference
in one particular quadrant, were you surprised by which one?

logical and save money. As another simplified example, people who are very good
at verbal and written language (which involves a linear thinking process) are
using the left brain, whereas those who prefer to interpret infor-
mation through visual images are more right-brained. Action Memo
Although the concept of right-brained versus left-brained A simplifi ed exercise to help you think about
thinking is not entirely accurate physiologically (not all processes your own preferences appears in Leader’s
associated with left-brained thinking are located in the left hemi- Self-Insight 4.4. Before reading further,
sphere and vice versa), this concept provides a powerful metaphor follow the instructions and complete the
for two very different ways of thinking and decision making. It is exercise to get an idea about your dominant
also important to remember that everyone uses both left-brained and thinking style according to Herrmann’s
right-brained thinking, but to varying degrees. whole brain model. Then, read the
More recently, these ideas have been broadened to what is called descriptions of each quadrant below.
the whole brain concept. Ned Herrmann began developing his concept
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of whole brain thinking while he was a manager at General Electric in
the late 1970s and has expanded it through many years of research with
thousands of individuals and organizations. The whole brain approach considers
not only a person’s preference for right-brained versus left-brained thinking, but Whole brain concept
Whole brain concept
an approach that considers not
also for conceptual versus experiential thinking. Herrmann’s whole brain model an approach that considers not
only a person’s preference for
only a person’s preference for

thus identifies four quadrants of the brain that are related to different thinking right-brained versus left-brained
right-brained versus left-brained
styles. Again, while not entirely accurate physiologically, the whole brain model thinking, but also conceptual
thinking, but also conceptual
versus experiential thinking;
is an excellent metaphor for understanding differences in thinking patterns. Some versus experiential thinking;
identifi es four quadrants of the
identifi es four quadrants of the
people strongly lean toward using one quadrant in most situations, whereas oth- brain related to different thinking
brain related to different thinking
ers rely on two, three, or even all four styles of thinking. An individual’s preference styles
styles
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