Discover Your Thinking Style: Understanding Different Modes of Thought
Understanding our understanding of ourselves often starts with the nature of our thoughts. How we think is crucial for personal growth as well as critical insights on our behavior and understanding of the world around us.
Our thinking styles influence our decision-making, problem-solving, and overall approach to life. Our thoughts build our mental system that we use to process the daily intake of information and anticipations.
I don’t necessarily talk about positive or negative thinking here, as that has more to do with the mindset a person is in at a given time. Any of the thinking models described below can be interpreted as either. But the point here is to understand our default mode of operation, not a subjective perception stimulated by an external anomaly.
Positive thinking will let you do everything better than negative thinking will.” — Zig Ziglar
we dont think for the sake of others, our thinking is an attempt to process the world around us and how it can serve us to navigate the complex world we are in.
There have been famously ten different thinking styles in the mainstream literature as outlined by John Maxwell in his book “How Successful People Think”.
Thinking modes as such can help us identify your dominant mode of thought and leverage it for better decision making in the personal and professional settings.
The greatest day in your life and mine is when we take total responsibility for our attitudes. That’s the day we truly grow up. — John C. Maxwell
Before we get into this further, it should be clear that we all possess all different thinking styles inhibited into our personality and use them on a daily basis. Distinguishing our predominant thinking approach in parallel to any particular category is anything but clear.
But analysing our mental behavior or response, can help us figure out where does our strength lies. And based on that, we can better navigate our decision-making to help us make a better choice.
Let me explain it to you one by one:
- Big-Picture Thinkers:
Big-picture thinkers focus on long-term goals and broader impacts. They maintain a vision of where they want to go and how their actions contribute to that vision. If you often find yourself considering the larger implications of your actions and setting ambitious long-term goals, you might be a big-picture thinker. - Focused Thinkers:
Focused thinkers excel at concentrating on one task or idea at a time, avoiding distractions to achieve deep concentration. If you thrive in environments where you can devote undivided attention to a single task and consistently produce high-quality work, you likely possess a focused thinking style. - Creative Thinkers:
Creative thinkers generate new ideas, solutions, and perspectives. They challenge conventional thinking, embrace innovation, and cultivate environments that foster creativity. If you enjoy exploring unconventional approaches and finding unique solutions to problems, you likely have a creative thinking style. - Realistic Thinkers:
Realistic thinkers strike a balance between optimism and realism. They set achievable goals based on a realistic assessment of their abilities and resources. If you tend to set practical, attainable goals and approach challenges with a grounded perspective, you might be a realistic thinker. - Strategic Thinkers: Strategic thinkers plan for the future and make decisions based on a clear understanding of their goals and the surrounding environment. They identify opportunities, anticipate challenges, and develop flexible strategies to navigate them effectively. If you excel at strategic planning and always consider the bigger picture, you likely possess a strategic thinking style.
- Possibility Thinkers: Possibility thinkers adopt a mindset of abundance and opportunities. They overcome limiting beliefs and see challenges as opportunities for growth and innovation. If you approach problems with an open mind, explore various solutions, and seek creative alternatives, you might be a possibility thinker.
- Reflective Thinkers: Reflective thinkers evaluate past experiences and extract lessons learned to continuously improve themselves. They engage in honest self-assessment and acknowledge both successes and failures. If you regularly reflect on your experiences and use them to inform your future decisions and actions, you likely have a reflective thinking style.
- Shared Thinkers: Shared thinkers value collaboration and teamwork, leveraging diverse perspectives and expertise to solve problems and achieve common goals. They listen to others, value different viewpoints, and work together toward mutual success.
If you thrive in collaborative environments and enjoy working with others to achieve common objectives, you likely possess a shared thinking style. - Unselfish Thinkers: Unselfish thinkers prioritize the needs of others over personal gain, cultivating empathy, compassion, and a genuine desire to help others succeed. They understand that true success is often found in lifting others up and contributing to the greater good.
- Bottom-Line Thinkers: Bottom-line thinkers focus on results and outcomes, making decisions based on facts, data, and practical considerations.
They prioritize efficiency and effectiveness. If you always consider the practical implications of your decisions and prioritize tangible results, you likely possess a bottom-line thinking style.
Identifying your primary thinking style is the first step in making it work for you. Knowing how your mind operates helps you play to your strengths, make better decisions, and build a mindset that supports your goals.
Whether you’re a big-picture thinker, a creative thinker, or something in between, embrace your unique approach to thinking and use it to drive positive change in your life and the world around us.
