Brainy

How can I use my mind better? I recently attended a refresher training in leadership 101 and the top two concepts were listening and thinking. Yep, those are broad topics but how do I think better?

Let’s start with the scientific method. We often are faced with a challenge that needs a solution with limited info and resources. We start collecting the Who, What, Why, When, and How (eek my W streak was broken). What’s next? Well, believe it or not you just accomplished the first two parts of the scientific method: observe and question. And the first to steps wouldn’t be accomplished well without critical thinking.

Critical thinking helps us actively and skillfully conceptualize, apply, analyze, synthesize, and/or evaluate information gathered from, or generated by, observation, experience, reflection, reasoning, or communication. Sounds like a great deal of work! It is, and we have more to do.

Next, we have hypothesis, prediction, testing, conclusion, and communication.

For those who like to learn with words with the same letter, think company mission logos, the Center for Creative Leadership has developed the 6D model for decision making (think problem solving). I always forget the basic way to solve problems but having the model with all 6 basic elements starting with D helps.

Now, with models in hand, how do I think better? The answer must be discovered by the person positing the challenge as one could devote a lifetime in a brainy pursuit. BrainHQ offers a few ideas and here’s the app:

References

http://www.criticalthinking.org/pages/defining-critical-thinking/766

(Image courtesy of https://askabiologist.asu.edu/explore/scientific-method)