Key Messages
Exploring the Different Thinking Styles of the Left and Right Hemispheres of the Brain
The right and left hemispheres of the brain are responsible for different roles in thinking.
The left hemisphere is known for its focus on details: it processes symbols in sequence, like when we’re reading, and provides us with analytical responses from past insights.
On the other hand, the right hemisphere lets us take a more intuitive look at situations; it allows us to pick up on signs of danger beyond just recognizing a gun, such as an angry expression, since all cultures tend to interpret facial expressions similarly.
Overall, our brain needs both parts – the left for details and the right for more holistic thinking – in order to effectively analyze any given situation.
By using both hemispheres together, we can see why activity requires integration between both sides and also how each area specializes in certain ways of thinking.
Thanks to advances in science, we have been able to understand more about each hemisphere’s distinct role.
The Unequal Valuing of Left- and Right-Directed Thinking: Why the Right Side of the Brain Has Historically Been Underappreciated
Historically, the right side of the brain and its Right-Directed Thinking has been seen as less important than the left side and its Left-Directed Thinking.
It was once thought that because the left hemisphere allows people to solve analytical tasks, it must be the side that separates us from animals.
We know that the left side of the brain controls the right side of our body and this difference in appreciation also manifests itself commonly when both sides are used as metaphors for different approaches to life.
Left-Directed Thinking is believed to draw on traits from the left hemisphere, meaning it is sequential, literal, functional, textual, and analytic – these traits would then dominate a Left-Directed thinker’s approach to life.
Meanwhile, Right-Directed Thinking would be characterized by being simultaneous, metaphorical, aesthetic, contextual, and synthetic – all traits of Right-Directed thinkers.
Societal views also mirrored this unequal appreciation as exams typically rewarded linear thinking when aiming at a correct answer in a set timeframe.
However, with many roles such as entrepreneurship demanding creativity or “big picture” thinking instead of just seeking individual answers right or wrong; today there is more focus on valuing the importance of Right-Directed Thinking more equally with its Left counterpart.
The Importance of Right-Brain Thinking in the Move to the Conceptual Age
We live in an era of abundance due to the proliferation of left-brain thinking.
For years, this was considered necessary for success, as it enabled people to gain the knowledge they needed to pursue a successful career.
However, times are changing and right-directed thinking is becoming increasingly important.
With technological advancements making white-collar work more accessible and abundant, people need to find something that sets them apart.
This means possessing aptitudes such as design sensibility, storytelling skills, symphony and empathy.
Having these particular attributes can give someone an edge in today’s competitive marketplace.
Aside from the competition, Right-Directed Thinking has experienced an increased demand outside of the office as well – living in an age of plenty has caused us to look for meaning that cannot be found with material possessions alone.
Through such activities we can reach understanding of ourselves and others on a deeper level.
In an Age of Material Abundance, Good Design is Essential to Business Success
Design is no longer an afterthought in today’s society.
In an era of material abundance, businesses must take design into account more seriously than ever before.
Customers now expect products that not only serve a purpose but also have visual appeal.
Good design can add significance to products and make them stand out from the competition.
A study at the London Business School indicated that investing in product design can increase a company’s sales and profits by up to 4 percent.
This demand for good design is evident even in such seemingly trivial items as kitchen utensils – bottle openers now come shaped like animals, and spoons may have faces imprinted onto them.
Moreover, poor design can lead to disastrous consequences.
A sad example of this was the US Presidential election in 2000 which saw confusingly designed ballots result in ambiguity about who had won; it’s likely that with better design of the ballot this confusion could have been avoided.
It has even been suggested that improving the physical environment of schools can improve students’ performance further emphasizing just how important good design has become today.
In the Conceptual Age, storytelling has become increasingly important for Success
It’s no secret that storytelling is a coveted skill in today’s age.
In the Conceptual Age, knowledge and facts are accessible at the click of a button, making them less relevant in the grand scheme of things.
What does matter is your ability to place those facts into context and communicate them through a story.
We’ve seen this need for storytelling pop up in many different industries, such as marketing and advertising, where an aptitude for weaving stories has become crucial to success.
Even doctors have started to realize the importance of being able to understand and tell stories; medical schools are now introducing humanities courses so that their students can learn how to listen, interpret and tell patients’ stories.
Organizations also recognize this need; companies like Xerox collects their technicians’ stories on how they repair machines so that others can learn from those experiences.
Telling a good story helps you stand out from all the other noise – it makes it easier for people to relate to your product or service if they hear about it as part of a journey or story rather than just abstract facts.
All of this points towards one thing: if you want to be successful today, presenting facts is not enough.
You must know how to craft engaging stories if you hope to make an impact on your audience.
The Value of Symphony: Looking Beyond Individual Parts and Seeing the Big Picture
In our rapidly changing world, it’s no longer enough to just memorize small pieces of knowledge–it’s important to be able to take those elements and put them together in new and unexpected ways.
That’s why being able to “do Symphony” is becoming increasingly important in the way we work and live: being able to combine unrelated ideas into something new that can bring real value.
That’s why the aptitude for symphony is important today: you will be better placed if you can combine expertise from different cultures, languages and fields into something unique.
It also helps people create things that can bring success and happiness.
Consider how many self-made millionaires are dyslexic–they struggle with linear reasoning but are excellent at broad, big-picture thinking, which seems to make them more successful than average!
Big-picture thinking even helps us emotionally as it provides perspective on stress or worries and allows us to see that they’re just small pieces in the grand scheme of things.
So remember: putting together pieces into something meaningful is far more important today than taking them apart!
The Increasing Value of Empathy in an Automated World
As computer technology continues to develop, more and more tasks become automated or outsourced.
Unfortunately, many of these tasks require empathy – something that computers simply cannot replicate.
The jobs of lawyers, physicians and other human service professionals are particularly reliant on understanding their clients through the lens of empathy.
Empathy is a universal language, expressed mainly through facial expressions.
It can be used to gain insights from people from different backgrounds and beliefs which, in turn, helps to build relationships.
Furthermore, being able to empathize also makes it easier for people to adapt quickly in a wide variety of situations.
Stanford Business School has already begun teaching “interpersonal dynamics” classes as well as government institutions such as the FBI and CIA who have programs focusing on reading facial expressions – all techniques used to cultivate empathy amongst individuals.
Quite clearly then, developing empathy is essential not just for professionals but everyone in order to understand those around us better and ultimately foster greater harmony in our communities.
The Increasing Importance of Play: How Lightheartedness Can Improve Work Performance and Fulfillment
It has become increasingly evident that play, including humor and lightheartedness, will continue to be key elements for success in the Conceptual Age.
Evidence of this is seen in the huge industry that’s grown around video games—half of today’s population over six years old plays them.
Video games have even been found to promote skills needed in this era, such as improving players’ empathy through role-play scenarios.
Humor also adds value to workplaces, as it reduces hostility and diffuses difficult messages while boosting morale.
Humor originates from the right side of the brain due to its unique abilities like relaying a situation’s context or seeing things from new perspectives.
The joyfulness brought on by these aspects can lead to improved productivity and wellbeing, with research showing that laughter decreases stress hormones and increases job satisfaction when playing video games at work.
Clearly, play: lightheartedness is set for a more valuable role both within and beyond the workplace.
In the Conceptual Age, Meaning and Fulfillment are Fundamental Human Needs for Happiness
For many of us, our material needs are met.
We have the comforts and luxuries of modern life, and that can make us complacent.
But often times, humans need more than just sustenance – we want something to give our lives meaning and purpose.
Often people seek fulfillment by reaching higher spiritual or immaterial levels.
This is becoming increasingly common today as people become more aware of their individual potentials and how they can reach them.
This spiritual transformation is being seen in business too; with the rise of new businesses like yoga studios and “green” products that demonstrate how spirituality plays a role in today’s commercial landscape.
Additionally, increasing spirituality is also having an impact on health – studies show that regularly attending places of worship leads to longer life expectancy and better overall mental health.
Medical schools are recognizing this need for spiritualization too, offering courses on spirituality so physicians can take better care of their patients beyond just physical health.
Ultimately, finding meaning in life is closely linked to happiness; if you find deeper meaning or purpose in your existence, you’re much more likely to experience greater joys!
Wrap Up
A Whole New Mind by Daniel H.
Pink is all about the importance of Right-Directed Thinking in our fast-changing world.
In this book, Daniel argues that as we move from the Information Age to the Conceptual Age, certain right-brain aptitudes have become essential for success; these include design, story, symphony, empathy, play and meaning.
Right-Brain Thinking is all about using our big-picture perspective to put pieces together and think holistically.
This type of thinking makes use of empathy, creativity and intuition – qualities which computers don’t yet possess – so they can’t truly ever replicate it.
Therefore it has become an invaluable asset when job searching or starting a business today.
This book is a must read if you’re looking to develop your right-brain aptitudes in order to reach new heights in life!
