An Attitude for Thinking

Thinking and emotions are major dimensions of human personality. I once compiled about 70 of my thought processes for a workshop I designed for IKEA, although there are about 200 identified. We can think, guess, contemplate, ponder, elucidate, reflect, opine, and conjecture.

How would you enhance your thinking? After all, critical thinking skills are much sought after in a leader – in decision-making, creative problem-solving, motivation, and learning.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle wrote and invented the character, Sherlock Holmes. In many ways, Doyle WAS the eccentric detective with the investigative mind, residing at 221B Baker Street. The deductive and inductive reasoning, logic and reasoning used by Holmes are interesting fodder for the thinker. His questions were based on acute observation, depth of analysis and thorough referencing. Read these novels as they build upon our imagination and critical thinking styles. Robert B. Dilts has done a thesis on Doyle’s cognitive patterns in his excellent book, “Strategies of Genius” Volumes 1, 2 & 3 (Meta-Publications).

Here are some extracts from this infamous address: www.221bakerstreet.org

You can read whole, copyright-free stories on the intrepid detective with the razor-sharp, drug-inspired mind.

"By a man's finger-nails, by his coat-sleeve, by his boots, by his trouser-knees, by the callosities of his forefinger and thumb, by his expression, by his shirt-cuffs - by each of these things a man's calling is plainly revealed. That all united should fail to enlighten the competent inquirer in any case is almost inconceivable." ~ From A Study In Scarlet (1887)

Leadership Lessons:

1) Read from various sources (books, magazines, research papers, newspapers, online publications)

2) Challenge what you read; never accept anything at first blush

3) Discuss issues with friends and colleagues

4) Defend your argument, without being argumentative

5) Play cognitive games (e.g. Sudoku, Master Mind, Chess, crossword puzzles, cryptic crosswords, solve Rubik’s Cube)

6) Learn a new skill, and commit to mastering it

7) Interview, and ask comprehension questions (6W & H)