How you can increase your mental horizon (The Power of Thinking Grey, Part 3 of 3) [Download PDF]: LI #158 When Its Time for Thinking Grey THERE’S A TIME for Binary Thinking (viewing a situation as an Either-Or decision) and a time for Thinking Grey. Wisdom is to know what time it is. Thinking Grey is an alternative way of mentally processing on an issue, one that can lead to significant breakthroughs in problem-solving or, at least, to improvement. In this third article in the series, we will look at ways you can cultivate and apply this quality. I first encountered the term in The Contrarian’s Guide to Leadership by Steven B. Sample. In that book he identifies maintaining your intellectual
All issues are not Either-Or (The Power of Thinking Grey, Part 2 of 3) [Download PDF]: LI#157 When You Need to Apply a Different Way of Thinking BINARY THINKING MEANS viewing an issue or situation as an Either-Or: Either good or bad … black or white … right or wrong … all or nothing. Thinking Grey is recognizing that Either-Or does not apply in a given case and looking for multiple possibilities. I am not suggesting that Binary Thinking is wrong or bad, or that Thinking Grey is always right. Those prone to Thinking Grey often need to grow in their ability to recognize when Either-Or is appropriate and to take quicker, more decisive action accordingly. In my experience working with people, ho
Avoid the self-limiting effects of Binary Thinking (The Power of Thinking Grey, Part 1 of 3) [Download PDF]: LI #156: Break Through Mental Barriers ONE OF THE maxims of coaching is, “Your greatest strengths are also the source of your greatest weaknesses.” While this seems counterintuitive, it proves true in people’s lives over and over. Why is this? First, we become so comfortable with our strengths that they go on autopilot. We continue to use them thoughtlessly in situations where they are not appropriate or helpful. It’s like the old saying: “A carpenter who only has a hammer in his tool belt will treat every problem like a nail.” We continue to hammer away with our strengths and fail to
