In today's rapidly changing world, we face evolving challenges. These challenges are significant and are very unlikely to yield to our current ways of thinking, past successes, or regurgitated solutions from last century.

We could choose not to think properly about them or simply let instinct take over and either fight or flight. We suggest taking a bit more time to think is going to help!

Whether young or old, each of us has the potential to make a positive impact. But to do so, we must first recognize the barriers that often constrain our thinking.

Barriers to Effective Thinking

Our thinking styles are influenced by various factors such as:

• Personality. 
• Education, 
• Occupation, professional bias.
• Activity we are undertaking. 
• Context we find ourselves in.
• Stress levels. 

For example, a scientist trained to think analytically may struggle with creative brainstorming, while an artist accustomed to free-flowing ideas may find it challenging to think analytically. 

Professional biases can lead us to favour certain approaches over others, often unconsciously. 

Stress can significantly impact our ability to think clearly and rationally. Excessive stress pushes us towards instinctual behaviour which is a very short-term response and inevitably a poor one for the long term, especially in complex situations.

So, how do we break free from these barriers and think more effectively? 

Embrace Conscious Thinking: Make a deliberate effort to be aware of our thinking processes. Are we defaulting to familiar patterns, or are we open to new ways of thinking?

Encourage Diversity in Group Thinking: Collaborate with people who have different thinking styles. The interplay of various perspectives, can lead to more innovative solutions.

Be Open to Challenge: Create an environment where challenging ideas is welcomed. Understanding our communication style and that of others is worth the time and effort as it helps us become more effective problem formulators and solvers, together.

Create a Safe Space for Thinking: Encourage open dialogue without fear of judgment. A safe and supportive environment fosters generosity or interpretation, creativity and the possibility for new ways forward or compromises.

Understanding and consciously applying different thinking styles can significantly enhance our problem-solving capabilities. 

As we navigate through complex challenges, let's be mindful of our thinking processes and strive to cultivate a more diverse and inclusive approach to thinking. Ask yourself - how am I thinking about this right now?

After all, the way we think shapes not only our decisions but also the world around us.

Check out our Real Transition Leadership programme. Testimonials at Real Transition Leaders | Transition-HQ (thq.nz).

This weeks quote

"We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them"    - Albert Einstein