The Disagreement of Great Minds

More and more people are beginning to recognize the importance of different types of thinkers, especially in the workplace. Each individual has their own unique way of thinking, processing information, and problem-solving. We can use this knowledge to our advantage by understanding the different types of thinkers and how to make them work together.

The most common types of thinkers are visual, auditory, linguistic, and kinesthetic. Visual thinkers think in terms of pictures and spatial relationships, and tend to have excellent visualization skills. Auditory thinkers think in terms of sounds and conversations. They usually have excellent memory recall, and are excellent at understanding and explaining verbal concepts. Linguistic thinkers think in terms of words and phrases and tend to be better at writing, expressing ideas, understanding reading, and language arts in general. Finally, kinesthetic thinkers are great problem solvers, they think experientially with all their senses, and apply their findings to the world around them.

Now it’s time to apply these same strategies to different kinds of minds. Spatial Visualizers are particularly good at visualizing things that are three-dimensional in nature, like a map, a diagram, or even a sculpture. They tend to think in patterns and abstraction, and are often skilled in mathematics, computer programming, and music. In the workplace, Spatial Visualizers can help organize complex data, read charts quickly and accurately, and identify patterns in large datasets.

Auditory Digital think big-picture in terms of narrative and context, and are great at connecting disparate ideas together. They interpret conversations in a nuanced way and can be excellent strategists, as they can see how individual pieces will fit into a larger whole.

Kinesthetic thinkers excel in hands-on activities. They can understand abstract principles by actually doing them. This makes them excellent students, researchers, inventors, and makers.

When different kinds of thinkers get together and recognize the value of their different approaches, great progress can be made. The combination of strategic thinkers and creative types is a potent one, as each type of thinker brings something unique to the table. It turns out that great minds that do not think alike are more likely to yield towering innovations.

Whether you’re in a team setting or working alone, understanding the different types of thinkers and their strengths can help you foster collaboration and create breakthroughs. By recognizing the variety of thinkers and communicating accordingly, we can maximize collaboration, innovation, and success.