THINKING STYLES

THINKING STYLES
• A characteristic way of processing information .
• It involves how one acquires knowledge, organizes thoughts, forms views and opinions,
applies personal values, solves problems, makes decisions, plans, and expresses oneself to
others
• Thinking Styles, psychologist Robert Sternberg argues that ability often goes unappreciated
and uncultivated not because of lack of talent, but because of conflicting styles of thinking
and learning.
• Its major objective is to show how different thinking styles affect learning preferences and
how individual abilities to learn should be recognized and respected.
 THINKING STYLES
• Thinking Styles, psychologist Robert Sternberg argues that ability often goes unappreciated
and uncultivated not because of lack of talent, but because of conflicting styles of thinking
and learning.

• Its major objective is to show how different thinking styles affect learning preferences and
how individual abilities to learn should be recognized and respected.
• Understanding your thinking style can help you broaden your horizons and be more
receptive to the ideas of others.
•
• Understanding other’s thinking styles can help you tailor any information you have to share
with them in such a way that they are most likely to take it on board.
• You improve your communication with others when you can match their thinking style and
their ways of thinking.
• You can also avoid rubbing your boss the wrong way by paying close attention to how they
approach the tasks of the day.
• The great news is that thinking different and connecting with people with different thinking
styles is a skill you can build.
 PRINCIPLES OF THINKING STYLES
• Styles are preferences for how skills are used rather than abilities themselves.
• When styles and skills complement one other, the result is a synergy that is greater than the
sum of its parts.
• Life choices must be compatible with both styles and talents.
• People do not have a single style, but rather a profile of styles.
• Different activities and contexts require different styles.
• The degree of one's preferences varies from person to person.
• Styles might change during a person's life.
• Styles are quantifiable.
• Styles can be taught.
• Styles that were popular at one point may not be popular now.
• Styles that are popular in one location may not be popular in another
 CHECK BOX
STYLE-1 STYLE-2 STYLE-3 STYLE-4 STYLE-5

TOTAL
 STYLE:1

1. You like to get in there and make changes.

2. You prefer creativity to logic.
3. You’re curious and love hearing different ideas. Although, you’re also not afraid to
question said ideas.
4. You’re good at making connections between things that are surprising and unexpected.
5. You’re willing to challenge others and enter into debate/argument.
6. You’re not one to easily give in or agree with the group.
7. like to speculate 'what if?'
 STYLE-2
1. You are ever in search of a perfect (or ideal) resolution..
2. You’re very willing to hear everyone out. Isn’t that where the best ideas come from?
3. You ask questions and actually listen to the answers.
4. You’re solution-oriented and carry big dreams and goals.
5. You aim to please everyone in your decisions, sometimes to a fault.
6. You have immense faith in the power of a well-rounded consensus.
7. You think in terms of ethics and values and make it a point to care about what the people
around you care about.
 STYLE-3

1. You’re ready to get to work and make things happen.

2. You’re all about taking things step by step.
3. You use logic and creativity to get fast results.
4. You’re adaptable, always willing to adjust to make things work.
5. You shine when it comes to finding new ways of doing things without reinventing the
wheel.
6. You look for what works without getting into the why of it all.
7. You’re good with people.
 STYLE -4
1. You have a scientific approach to finding the singular best solution.
2. You’re all about diving into details and data.
3. You take your time to take the right steps. You care about doing it right.
4. You do the work and get the info you need before you make a final call.
5. People tend to describe you as “logical” or “practical.”
6. value reason and rules.
7. You’re not about the ego, You’re just out here looking for the right answer and the right
way to get there.
 STYLE-5
1. You are here for the facts.
2. The bottom line is never out of sight.
3. When it comes to making decisions, you want to hear from the experts.
4. You judge based on results. Because that’s what counts.
5. You rely on your own experience to make sense of things.
6. You like to solve problems.
7. You’re good at motivating others and working toward solutions.
• According to Bramson, the five thinking styles are:
• Synthesists
• Idealists
• Pragmatist Thinkers
• Analyst Thinkers
• Realist Thinkers
• Ask a few colleagues which Thinking Style they think best describes you, and why. 
• Remember that it may or may not be a style that seems directly related to your role.
• You can use their response as a springboard for discussion about your respective Thinking
Styles, and how they resonate or complement each other.
 1.SYNTHESIST THINKERS (THE CREATIVE / THE
ARGUMENTATIVE)

• Synthesists are largely defined by their creative and curious nature. Instead of leading with
logic, they love to explore more abstract ideas. They ask, “What if?” and consider a range
of views and possibilities. Some perceive synthesists as being argumentative, as they’re
quick to bring attention to opposing views—but these creative thinkers can prevent this
perception by first acknowledging others’ ideas before presenting alternatives.
• Synthesist Setbacks:
• You can come off as combative. You may need to work extra hard to make sure people know
you’re hearing them out.
• When pressed, you have a tendency to give others a hard time. Let’s face it.
• You’re prone to set logic aside a little too often.
• WAY OUT
If you are a synthesist, it can help you to get along with others if you acknowledge the
value of their ideas before discussing alternatives. This can help you appear more interested
in others’ views and less argumentative.
 SYNTHESIST THINKERS (THE CREATIVE / THE
ARGUMENTATIVE)

• If you work with a synthesist, understand that they are not being deliberately argumentative
– they just can’t help looking at problems from all angles.

• To connect with Synthesists, Bramson suggests “listen appreciatively to their speculation

and don‟t confuse their arguing nature with resistance.
 2.IDEALISTS: THE GOAL-SETTING TYPE OF
THINKER/ PERFECTIONIST

• Idealists set high standards and are always working toward larger-than-life goals. While
others might perceive them as perfectionists, in their minds, they’re simply putting their best
foot forward.
• These individuals are future-oriented, they value teamwork, and they expect everyone to
work hard.
• According to Bramson, “Idealists believe in lofty goals and standards.”
• To connect with Idealists, Bramson suggests “associate what you want to do with these goals
of quality, service, and community good.
• Idealist Setbacks:
• You may set your standards too high (for yourself and those around you), so try to make
room for other thinking types.
• You tend to feel let down or get hurt easily.
• You’ve been known to lose track of concrete details when focused on an end goal.
• WAY OUT
• If you are an idealist, it is important to understand that everyone doesn’t have such high
standards as you. You should try not to get upset when people fail to achieve your
(sometimes unrealistic) expectations.
• If you work for an idealist, this can be quite difficult. It can seem as if your best efforts are
never good enough. However, working with an idealist can help you to strive to be the very
best you can. It also means that your opinion will be listened to and valued. You can also
rely on idealists to be honest and to live up to high moral standards. This means you can
trust them and always know they will be honest with you.
 3.PRAGMATISTS: THE LOGICAL TYPE OF THINKER

• Pragmatists don’t waste any time—they take action. They tackle problems logically, step-by
step. They’re focused on getting things done, but they aren’t interested in understanding the
big picture like idealists are. Rather than considering what’s best in the long-term, they think
short-term. They like to get things done and their approach is often flexible and adaptive .
• According to Bramson, “Pragmatic thinkers are flexible, resourceful folk who look for
immediate payoff rather than for a grand plan that will change the world.”
• To connect with Pragmatists, Bramson suggests “emphasize short-term objectives on which
you can get started with resources at hand.”
• Pragmatists Setbacks:
• You’re not as likely to think big and can lose track of the long-term.
• Your approach can come off as a little all over the place, even though you’re constantly
checking items off your to-do list.
• WAY OUT
• You could stand to broaden your perspective and reach for more stars. Otherwise things can
get a little stagnant.
• This can help you understand where your actions are leading and ensure you are headed in the
right direction.
• While pragmatists get things done, they can benefit from taking a step back and reflecting on
big ideas.
• If you work with a pragmatist, try to keep to the subject at hand. If you wander off into
big ideas and long-term plans your pragmatist colleague may become overwhelmed and give
up altogether.
 4.ANALYSTS: THE RATIONAL/INTELLECTUAL
TYPE OF THINKER

• Analysts work methodically. They gather all of the facts and data, measuring and
categorizing along the way. Their personality is rooted in being thorough, accurate, and
rational; analysts are always looking for a formula or outlined procedure for solving
problems. These individuals tend to discount other ideas, but should open their minds, as
other ideas offer unique value.
• According to Bramsom, “Analyst thinkers equate accuracy, thoroughness, and attention to
detail with completeness. They are likely to gather data, measure it, categorize it, and
rationally and methodically calculate the right answer to any problem you come up with.
• To connect to Analysts, Bramson suggests “provide a logical plan replete with back-up data
and specifications.”
• Analyst Setbacks:
• You can get too set in your ways.
• ou will do everything thoroughly and accurately. However, you may dismiss others
whose attention to detail is not so good. This can be a shame because these people’s ideas
are valuable even if their work is not quite as accurate as yours.
• WAY OUT
• Though you get along well with others, you can come off a little withdrawn. Who needs the
drama of confrontation?
• There’s such thing as being excessively careful, so don’t be afraid to take a risk once in a
while.
• If you work with an analyst, then double check anything you show them for accuracy
otherwise you risk losing their respect. In discussions with them try to be logical and
always present a plan for new ideas as they can then grasp the concept better than if you just
give them concepts.
 5.REALISTS: THE PERFECT PROBLEM-SOLVING
TYPE OF THINKER

• Realists are quick on their feet, and they do whatever it takes to solve the problem at hand.
That said, realists bore easily—they don’t feel challenged by everyday problems or stressors
as most do. Yet, they want to be challenged.
• According to Bramson, “Realist thinkers are fast moving doers who know that reality is
what their senses – sight, sound, taste, smell, and touch – tell them it is, and not that dry stuff
that one finds in accounting ledgers, or the insipid pages of manual of operations.”
• To connect with Realists, Bramson suggests focus on the challenge and your solution. “If
you communicate with Realist bosses as if they were Analysts, you will never get their
attention.
• Rather than gobs of computer-printouts and other detailed information, Realists want a three
paragraph Executive Summary‟ which tells briefly what is wrong and how you propose to
fix it.
• You become an expert in their eyes when they know that you‟ve assembled a store of facts
in which they are interested, and you have proposed a set of actions that they already believe
are the best things to do.”
• Realist Setbacks:
• You can spend too much time trying to get others to get along or agree. Because surely all
rational adults can see eye to eye, right?
• You can get caught in the details, so beware of tunnel vision.
• You tend to get agitated under stress.
• WAY OUT
• Pause every now and then. The first solution is not always the best and sometimes you need
to take in a bit more information before assessing the situation and coming up with a plan.
• Take a step back and look at a problem from different angles. Take a little more time to gather
all of the information that is available and find the best solution (which isn’t always the first
solution) before acting.

• If your work with a realist, you need to learn to get to the point quickly. They want you
to summarize the problem and not overload them with lots of details.
 HOW TO USE THE FIVE THINKING
STYLES
• Each of the five thinking styles has its own strengths and weaknesses. One is not better than
another. The important thing is to understand and accept your thinking style. By knowing your
tendencies, you can gain insight into the places where it could serve you to grow and adjust.

• If you are a Synthesist, you are likely to be the person who solves problems others think of as
unsolvable. Synthesists can work on peppering their creativity with a little logic… and, ahem,
not being so confrontational.

• If you are an Idealist, you are likely to be perceived as a nurturing person. you can remind
yourself not to get carried away by the idea of “perfection” and to pay closer attention to the
small details that will get you where you want to go.
 HOW TO USE THE FIVE THINKING
STYLES
• If you are a Pragmatist, you are likely to be willing to take risks and come up with
innovative solutions to problems. You can dare to dream a bit more and start setting goals
that are more exciting than the next item on your to-do list.

• If you are an Analyst, you are likely seen as a person who can troubleshoot problems. You
can shake up your routine and take more risks. 

• If you are a Realist, you likely are the person who quickly provides practical solutions to
problems. You can let go of some of your excessively go-getter attitudes and try not to get
too bogged down in the details.