MindTech | Flexible Thinking Programs

Unleash the Power of Flexible Thinking

Program Description

A. What's the purpose?

Improve flexible thinking skills so that individuals can change perspectives consciously and purposefully instead of getting stuck in one point of view.

Apply those skills to improve communications, relationships, strategic thinking, planning and development.

Develop and install systems that will make the benefits systemic and long-lasting.

B. What are the specific benefits?

"One of the most provocative, inspiring, thoughtful and fun experiences about valuing mental diversity and what it takes to function as a team." - Director of Training, Lotus Development

Click for more direct quotes from past participants.

Mental diversity is more valued: People who think and function differently will be more fully appreciated.

Communications are improved: The staff will learn simple and practical ways to be more flexible with language instead of saying the same thing over again, only louder.

Development and planning are more effective: People will start paying attention to opinions, issues and functions that they tended to ignore in the past.

Job satisfaction is increased: Participants will discover what types of activities satisfy and motivate different types of people and how to use that knowledge for assigning jobs and planning careers.

Conflict is reduced: Leaders and managers will become more effective in identifying the causes of conflict and developing solutions.

Relationships are improved: The staff will learn how to use thinking preferences to more fully understand and appreciate themselves and their colleagues.

The program will challenge many long held beliefs and expectations about some of the most important people and events in your lives. Many people will experience belief changes about themselves, their colleagues and their work. When beliefs change, behaviors change and the changes can last a lifetime.

C. Agenda

1. What is the mental model and what does it mean?

2. How can the mental model be used as a tool to change perspectives?

3. What is the relationship of brain physiology to mental diversity and creativity?

4. What do the individual and team HBDI profiles mean?

5. Optional skill building activities:

Communications

Work satisfaction and careers

Strategic thinking, project planning and implementation

Team building

Developing vision, mission and strategies

Work environments and organizational culture

Performance evaluation

Training trainers

Effective presentations

Click for more comprehensive agenda information.

D. What's the character of the program?

Most of the learning will come from small group activities that are thought provoking and fun. The learning can be applied to current work issues and projects during class. There will be opportunities for skill building. The program can be adapted for advancing current projects and dealing with organizational issues.

A four-color HBDI personal profile describing an individual's Thinking Preferences is given to each participant based on an assessment form they complete on the web a few weeks prior to the program. There are no value judgments in the profile, so people will find it easy and fun to participate.

Manny Elkind's profile is shown below as an example.

Click for more HBDI Profile examples and stories.

E. Who are some of the past participants?
Click for chart with names and numbers.

F. What are past participants saying about the program?
Click for quotes.

G. Program options	half-day	full day	2 day
Understand model, basic applications, profiles	X	X	X
Applications options for communications, strategic thinking, job satisfaction, careers and more		X	X
Applications to advance ongoing and future projects and deal with important current issues			X

H. Group size and makeup.

Group sizes range from 8 to 300. Groups of 25 to 40 are more likely to provide the best combination of mental diversity and individual attention from the instructor. The largest groups engage in the same activities as the smallest groups by breaking into small teams.

Programs can include participants from a wide variety of levels, departments and functions. Some examples are:

A staff or team

The direct reports of a staff or team

Colleagues or peers at any level

Key people from other parts of your company that affect your organization's success

Key people from other companies that provide vital services or materials

Family members

I. Situations for using the program or the concepts

Management development

Team building

Opening session of off-site strategy or problem-solving meeting

Project development and planning

Integrating cultures of merging organizations

Keynote speaker and presenter at conferences

Aligning vision, strategies and organizational values with personal values

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