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1Copyright © The Project Professors, All Right Reserved
What About This: 9 Thinking Modalities
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9 Thinking Modalities• Visionary – forward looking with alternative futures,• Strategic - the generation and application of unique insights and opportunities intended
to create a desired outcome,• Systems - holistic approach to analysis that focuses on the way constituent parts
interrelate, work over time and within the context of larger systems,• Analytic or Critical - the intellectually disciplined process of actively and skillfully
conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and/or evaluating information gathered from, or generated by, observation, experience, reflection, reasoning, or communication,
• Creative – the method of considering problems or situations from fresh perspectives which might suggest unorthodox solutions,
• Lateral – out-of-the-box - solving problems through an indirect and creative approach,
using reasoning that is not immediately obvious, reframing questions to elicit different approaches,
• Structured - a process of putting a framework to an unstructured problem,• Conceptual - the ability to understand a situation or problem by identifying patterns or
connections, and addressing key underlying issues, and• Visual or Spatial - the ability to visualize special patterns and mentally manipulate them
over a time-ordered sequence of spatial transformations.
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Visionary Thinking
Components Effective Visionary Thinking • Creative• Futuristic• Progressive• Directional• Tangible
• Build Rapport• Describe Future• Build Value• Develop Tangible Concepts• Create Excitement• Overcome Obstacles• Secure Agreement
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Strategic Thinking
Components Effective Strategic Thinking • Creative• Analytical• Benchmarks• Perceptive• Adjust quickly• VOC input/research• Unorthodox/Maverick
• Use both sides of brain – creative and analytical
• Clearly define objectives• Design in flexibility• Recognize internal/external clues• Seek advice from others• Patient…Wait for it…wait for it
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Systems Thinking
Components Effective Systems Thinking • Holistic• Action/Consequences• System Components
Interrelationships• Diagramming for visual study
• Software/Diagrams showing relationships/interdependencies
• Viewing system as a set of components
• Understanding situation as part of a system
• Leveraging others to define relationships
* http://www.thwink.org/sustain/glossary/SystemsThinking.htm
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Critical or Analytical Thinking
Components Effective Critical Thinking • Reasoned judgement• Logical • Question Assumptions and
Conclusions• Contrarian viewpoints• Recognize ambiguity• Clarify, articulate, justify
position
• Breakdown To Components• Determine Root Cause(s)• Recognize Assumptions• Evaluate Arguments• Draw Conclusions• Support Conclusions with data, facts,
evidence
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Creative Thinking
Components Effective Creative Thinking • Relaxed, open, playful approach• Wild/crazy suggestions• Doodle/daydream with theory or
suggestions• Make mistakes• Attitude, self-confidence, talent• Many right answers• Could be emotional, risky,
confusing, disordered, chaotic
• Brainstorm/Mind-map many ideas• Ask same question 20 times, but give
a different answer• Change routine, take a different route• What if…? Questions• Create new stimuli: music, scenery,
room arrangement, stand vs. sit• Daydream someone else’s dream
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Lateral Thinking“Out-of-the-box”
Components Effective Lateral Thinking (6 hats) • Challenge the obvious or
preconceived assumptions• Random entries to open new
lines of thinking• Provocative statements
• Neutral information• Emotions and hunches• Judge and evaluate• Optimism and positive views• Ideas and creativity• Big picture
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Structured Thinking
Components Effective Structured Thinking • Turns problem into mini-project• Develop overall scope• Decomposes problem into
smallest components• Develop solution(s)• Prototype solution• Fine tune and scale
• Scope (bound problem)• Diagram components• Work and Complete components• Prototype solution• Fine tune/refine• Scale
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Conceptual Thinking
Components Effective Conceptual Thinking • Abstraction• Impossible to Probable• Tells a story• Probing Questions – Why, not
How• Question everything• Borrow heavily from other
thinking modalities
• Define the Impossible• Develop the story• Ask Why and Why Not• Use lateral thinking• Tell the story
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Visual/Spatial Thinking
Components Effective Visual Thinking • Visual processing• Recognize patterns• Practice curiosity• Probe beyond surface visually• Ask Right Questions• 16 categories of questions• Useful for all thinking
modalities
• Visualize end result• See patterns from present to future• Ask questions (use 16 categories)
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16 Categories of Questions*
1. Identification Questions2. Hindsight Questions3. Planning Questions4. Fact-finder Questions5. Clarification Questions6. Association Questions7. Sorting Questions8. Simplification Questions
9. Hierarchical Questions10.Probing Questions11.Transformer Questions12.Coaching Questions13.Foresight Questions14.Strategic Questions15.Skeptical Questions16.Limiting Questions
* http://www.visualthinkingmagic.com/visual-thinking-questions
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Conclusion