The document discusses 9 thinking modalities: visionary, strategic, systems, analytic/critical, creative, lateral, structured, conceptual, and visual/spatial. For each modality, it provides 2-4 pages describing components of effective thinking for that modality. Some examples of modalities and components discussed include visionary thinking involving being futuristic and building value, strategic thinking combining creative and analytical sides of the brain, systems thinking viewing problems holistically and understanding interrelationships, and visual/spatial thinking recognizing patterns and asking probing questions. The document aims to provide frameworks for applying different thinking approaches.

1. What About This:
9 Thinking Modalities
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2. 9 Thinking Modalities
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• Visionary – forward looking with alternative futures,
• Strategic - the generation and application of unique insights and opportunities intended
to create a desired outcome,
• Systems - holistic approach to analysis that focuses on the way constituent parts
interrelate, work over time and within the context of larger systems,
• Analytic or Critical - the intellectually disciplined process of actively and skillfully
conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and/or evaluating information gathered
from, or generated by, observation, experience, reflection, reasoning, or communication,
• Creative – the method of considering problems or situations from
fresh perspectives which might suggest unorthodox solutions,
• Lateral – out-of-the-box - solving problems through an indirect and creative approach,
using reasoning that is not immediately obvious, reframing questions to elicit different
approaches,
• Structured - a process of putting a framework to an unstructured problem,
• Conceptual - the ability to understand a situation or problem by identifying patterns or
connections, and addressing key underlying issues, and
• Visual or Spatial - the ability to visualize special patterns and mentally manipulate them
over a time-ordered sequence of spatial transformations.

3. Visionary Thinking
Components Effective Visionary Thinking
• Creative
• Futuristic
• Progressive
• Directional
• Tangible
• Build Rapport
• Describe Future
• Build Value
• Develop Tangible Concepts
• Create Excitement
• Overcome Obstacles
• Secure Agreement
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4. Strategic Thinking
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Components Effective Strategic Thinking
• Creative
• Analytical
• Benchmarks
• Perceptive
• Adjust quickly
• VOC input/research
• Unorthodox/Maverick
• Use both sides of brain – creative and
analytical
• Clearly define objectives
• Design in flexibility
• Recognize internal/external clues
• Seek advice from others
• Patient…Wait for it…wait for it

5. Systems Thinking
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Components Effective Systems Thinking
• Holistic
• Action/Consequences
• System Components
Interrelationships
• Diagramming for visual study
• Software/Diagrams showing
relationships/interdependencies
• Viewing system as a set of components
• Understanding situation as part of a system
• Leveraging others to define relationships
* http://www.thwink.org/sustain/glossary/SystemsThinking.htm

6. Critical or Analytical Thinking
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Components Effective Critical Thinking
• Reasoned judgement
• Logical
• Question Assumptions and
Conclusions
• Contrarian viewpoints
• Recognize ambiguity
• Clarify, articulate, justify position
• Breakdown To Components
• Determine Root Cause(s)
• Recognize Assumptions
• Evaluate Arguments
• Draw Conclusions
• Support Conclusions with data, facts,
evidence

7. Creative Thinking
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Components Effective Creative Thinking
• Relaxed, open, playful approach
• Wild/crazy suggestions
• Doodle/daydream with theory or
suggestions
• Make mistakes
• Attitude, self-confidence, talent
• Many right answers
• Could be emotional, risky, confusing,
disordered, chaotic
• Brainstorm/Mind-map many ideas
• Ask same question 20 times, but give a
different answer
• Change routine, take a different route
• What if…? Questions
• Create new stimuli: music, scenery, room
arrangement, stand vs. sit
• Daydream someone else’s dream

8. Lateral Thinking
“Out-of-the-box”
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Components Effective Lateral Thinking (6 hats)
• Challenge the obvious or
preconceived assumptions
• Random entries to open new lines
of thinking
• Provocative statements
• Neutral information
• Emotions and hunches
• Judge and evaluate
• Optimism and positive views
• Ideas and creativity
• Big picture

9. Structured Thinking
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Components Effective Structured Thinking
• Turns problem into mini-project
• Develop overall scope
• Decomposes problem into smallest
components
• Develop solution(s)
• Prototype solution
• Fine tune and scale
• Scope (bound problem)
• Diagram components
• Work and Complete components
• Prototype solution
• Fine tune/refine
• Scale

10. Conceptual Thinking
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Components Effective Conceptual Thinking
• Abstraction
• Impossible to Probable
• Tells a story
• Probing Questions – Why, not How
• Question everything
• Borrow heavily from other thinking
modalities
• Define the Impossible
• Develop the story
• Ask Why and Why Not
• Use lateral thinking
• Tell the story

11. Visual/Spatial Thinking
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Components Effective Visual Thinking
• Visual processing
• Recognize patterns
• Practice curiosity
• Probe beyond surface visually
• Ask Right Questions
• 16 categories of questions
• Useful for all thinking modalities
• Visualize end result
• See patterns from present to future
• Ask questions (use 16 categories)

12. 16 Categories of Questions*
1. Identification Questions
2. Hindsight Questions
3. Planning Questions
4. Fact-finder Questions
5. Clarification Questions
6. Association Questions
7. Sorting Questions
8. Simplification Questions
9. Hierarchical Questions
10. Probing Questions
11. Transformer Questions
12. Coaching Questions
13. Foresight Questions
14. Strategic Questions
15. Skeptical Questions
16. Limiting Questions
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* http://www.visualthinkingmagic.com/visual-thinking-questions

13. Conclusion
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