“Managing Minds”

Dr. Karl AlbrechtKarl Albrecht International

PMI Professional Development

Session

PMI Professional Development

Session

Whole-Brain Leadership

The real title ofevery lecture is

“How to Be More Like Me.”

- Prof. Gordon Lippitt

Introduction to Thinking StylesIdentifying Your Own Thinking StyleUnderstanding and Accepting Others’ StylesLearning to “Read” Others’ StylesApplying Your Knowledge of Styles

Learning, Teaching, Communicating

Persuading, Selling, NegotiatingLeading, Managing, Coaching,

AdvisingSkill Building Exercises for Whole Brain

Thinking

Our Agenda

Multiple IntelligencesMultiple Intelligences

Dr. Karl AlbrechtAuthor of Practical Intelligence,Social Intelligence, and creatorof the Mindex Thinking Style Profile

History of Brain ResearchHistory of Brain Research

Slow progress; very little was known

about the “mysterious organ” until 1800sAristotle: its function was to cool the blood?

Localized functions: observations

of brain-injured people1800s - Paul Broca, Karl Wernicke

Left and right “brains:” CalTech split-brain experiments1960s – Dr. Joe Bogen, Prof. Roger Sperry

Cognitive “styles:” multiple ways of knowing1921 – Carl Jung’s theory of psychological “types”; 1960s – Myers & Briggs

“Type Indicator”; 1983 – Dr. Karl Albrecht: Mindex Thinking Styles Profile

Thinking StylesThinking Styles

2. Content of Thought(Concrete vs. Abstract)

1. Structure of Thought(Left-brained vs. Right-brained)

red blue green

black red gray

greenblue

white

gray yellowwhite brown

yellow gray

Name the Colors?

The Mindex ModelThe Mindex Model

AbstractConcepts

ConcreteExperience

Right BrainedLeft Brained

Red Sky

Red Earth

Blue Sky

Blue Earth

Red Earth ModeRed Earth Mode

Right Brained and Concrete

“Here and Now”

Direct Experience

Uses Intuition and Hunches

Oriented to Feelings and “Vibrations”

Blue Earth ModeBlue Earth Mode

Left Brained and Concrete

The “Bottom Line”

Facts and Figures

Uses Linear / Procedural Thinking

Oriented to Logical Outcomes

Red Sky ModeRed Sky Mode

Right Brained and Abstract

“The Big Picture”

Dreams and Visions

Uses Hypothetical / Projective Thinking

Oriented to Possibilities

Blue Sky ModeBlue Sky Mode

Left Brained and Abstract

“The System”

Diagrams andRelationships

Uses Systematic Thinking

Oriented to Structureand Order

16 Additional Mindex Dimensions16 Additional Mindex Dimensions

• Sensory-Mode Preference

• Structure Preference

• Mental Flexibility

• Thinking Fluency

100

100100

100

988 Women1003 Men

Mindex Profiles - 1Mindex Profiles - 1

100

100100

100

115 Engineers

Mindex Profiles - 2Mindex Profiles - 2

216 Nurses

100

100100

100

Mindex Profiles - 3Mindex Profiles - 3

115 Engineers 272 Trainers

Reading the CluesReading the Clues

You may be able to estimate the Mindex pattern of the person you’re with by focusing on these observations:

• Use of language – concrete or abstract?

• Step-by-step or tangential explanations?

• Use of structure, procedure?

• Need (or not) for data?

• Reference to feelings or emotions (or not)?

• Style of dress? General demeanor?

• Office décor?

• Prior experiences with him or her?

How Do Leaders Think?How Do Leaders Think?

How Do Leaders Think?How Do Leaders Think?

How Do Leaders Think?How Do Leaders Think?

?

? ?

?

How to Get Through to Red EarthHow to Get Through to Red Earth

Do: 1. Talk in terms of concrete action - results.2. Give examples to illustrate what you mean.3. Deal with what’s real, not hypothetical cases.4. Put feeling into the conversation; make it human.5. Emphasize the practicality of your proposal.

Don’t:1. Use words or terms that are too abstract.2. Generalize too much; do stick to the point.3. Overload them with too many facts and figures.4. Overwhelm them with too much “logic.”5. Waste time explaining ”theories”; do make it practical.

How to Get Through to Blue EarthHow to Get Through to Blue Earth

Do: 1. Talk about concrete action - results.2. Explain the “bottom line” first, then the details.3. Keep it organized; stick closely to the point. 4. Present your facts in a clear sequence.5. Use logic to support your case.

Don’t:1. Explain theories or make generalizations.2. Wander from the point or bring up confusing information.3. Try to cover 2 or 3 topics in the same conversation. 4. Try to rely on emotional or philosophical appeals. 5. Use fuzzy or imprecise terminology.

How to Get Through to Red SkyHow to Get Through to Red Sky

Do: 1. Deal with the “big picture” - the grand design.2. Give inspiration to your case; make it come alive.3. Offer a philosophical justification for your proposal.4. Tie it all together; show how your idea can work.5. Generalize skillfully.

Don’t:1. Get stuck in the details.2. Overuse facts and figures.3. Overwhelm them with logical structures or systems.4. Make it “cold-blooded”; do make it human and exciting.5. Use clichés or “pat” slogans; do make it original.

How to Get Through to Blue SkyHow to Get Through to Blue Sky

Do: 1. Talk about the “big picture”- the grand design.2. Draw diagrams to illustrate your ideas.3. Show how everything fits together.4. Explain your case logically and systematically.5. Emphasize the strength of your logical rationale.

Don’t:1. Get stuck in the details.2. Wander off into other subjects or irrelevant concerns.3. Argue from philosophical or metaphysical appeals.4. Build your case on hunches or speculative information.5. Overuse emotion-oriented terminology.

Use Your Knowledge of Thinking StylesEvery Day

Practice whole brain thinking – access all four Mindex patterns as you listen, think, speak, and write.

Every time you meet someone new, listen first - estimate his or her thinking style. Use “diagnostic” questions.

Show tolerance and patience – don’t try to force others to use your favorite processing style.

Make a habit of explaining things in all four patterns. Use visual, kinesthetic, and auditory figures of speech.

Applications of Thinking StylesApplications of Thinking Styles

Self-Understanding

Personal Relationships

Communication Training

Sales Training

Team Building

Training Design

Coaching / Counseling

Job / Career Advice

10 Ways You Can Use Mindex…10 Ways You Can Use Mindex…

1. Build your “people-reading” skills.

2. Make better decisions by getting more and better information from others.

3. Sell your ideas to others with more clarity and skill.

4. Reduce conflict withpeople and in work groups.

10 Ways You Can Use Mindex…10 Ways You Can Use Mindex…

5. Lead or manage others with less conflict while getting greater results.

6. Reduce or eliminate your “communication stress” with others.

7. Accept the styles of others,as being unique to them.

8. Practice situational shiftingas needed.

10 Ways You Can Use Mindex10 Ways You Can Use Mindex

9. Know when to focus on feelings, rapport, and intuition, vs. facts, data, and concepts.

10.Know how to adjust your approach when explaining, selling, teaching, or persuading others.

To Download this Presentation:

• Go to http://www.KarlAlbrecht.com

• Click “Downloads”

• Find the meeting listed & click the link