WHOLE BRAIN THINKING AND LEARNING

WHOLE BRAIN
THINKING AND
LEARNING

“The human brain is an enchanted
loom where millions of flashing
shuttles weave a dissolving pattern,
always a meaningful pattern, though
never an abiding one, a shifting
harmony of sub patterns. It is as if
the Milky Way entered upon some
cosmic dance.”
- Sir Charles Sherrington

“In each human brain, there are an estimated
one million, million (1,000,000,000,000) brain
cells. Each brain cell (neuron) contains a vast
electrochemical complex and powerful
microdata processing and transmitting system
that, despite its complexity, would fit on the
head of a pin.”
- Tony Buzan

“I HAVE TWO BRAINS,
THE LEFT AND THE RIGHT”

Number skills
Left brain
functions
Written language
Spoken language
Reasoning
Right hand control
Scientific skills

Right brain
functions
3D Forms
Insight
Art awareness
Left hand
control
Imagination
M
u
s
i
c

“I HAVE THREE BRAINS:
REPTILIAN, LIMBIC AND
NEOCORTEX”

THE TRIUNE BRAIN THEORY
By: Dr. Paul Mclean

“I HAVE FOUR BRAINS:
LEFT CEREBRAL, LEFT
LIMBIC, RIGHT LIMBIC,
RIGHT CEREBRAL

The HBDI developed by Hermann yielded
a brain dominance profile
Logical
Factual
Critical
Technical
Analytical
Quantitative
Conservative
Structure
Sequential
Organized
Detailed
Planned
Visual
Holistic
Intuitive
Innovative
Conceptual
Imaginative
Interpersonal
Kinesthetic
Emotional
Spiritual
Sensory
Feeling

PREFERRED SUBJECTS
Arithmetic
Algebra
Calculus
Logic
Science
Technology
Finance
A
D
Arts
Geometry
Design
Poetry
Architecture
Marketing
Programming
Accounting
Technical
Management
Production
B
C
Social Sciences
Psychology
Dance
Drama
High-Skilled Sports
People-Management

PREFERRED PROFESSIONS
Lawyers
Engineers
Computer Systems Analysts
Financial Analysts
Technicians
Physicians
Statisticians
Bureaucrats
Administrators
Bookkeepers
Planners-Programmers
Elementary Teachers
Policemen
Cashiers
Production Supervisors
Maintenance People
Classical Musicians
A
B
Entrepreneurs
Explorers
Artists
Playwrights
Scientists in R&D
Advertising
D Composers
Jazz Musicians
C
Guidance Counselors
Public Relations
Nurses
Social Workers
Entertainers
HRD
Salesmen
Priests

PREFERRED LEARNING ACTIVITIES: If you are an A-
quadrant thinker, you prefer to learn and act in this way:
• Collecting data and information
• Organizing information logically in a framework, not to the last detail.
• Listening to informational lectures
• Reading textbooks (most textbooks are written for quadrant A thinkers)
• Studying example problems and solutions
• Thinking through ideas
• Doing library searches
• Doing research using the scientific method
• Making up a hypothesis, then testing it to find out if it is true
• Judging ideas based on facts, criteria, and logical reasoning
• Doing technical case studies
• Doing financial studies
• Dealing with hardware and things, rather than people
• Dealing with reality and the present, rather than with future possibilities
• Traveling to other cultures to study technological artifacts

PREFERRED LEARNING ACTIVITIES: If you are an B-
quadrant thinker, you prefer to learn and act in this way:
• Following directions instead of trying to do something in a different way
• Doing repetitive, detailed homework problems
• Testing theories and procedures to find out what is wrong with them
• Doing lab work, step by step
• Writing a sequential report on the results of experiments
• Using programmed learning and tutoring
• Finding practical uses for knowledge learned - theory is not enough
• Planning projects; doing schedules, then executing according to plan
• Listening to detailed lectures
• Taking detailed notes
• Making time management schedules - the schedule is important, not people
• Making up a detailed budget
• Practicing new skills through frequent repetition
• Taking a field trip to learn about organizations and procedures
• Writing a “how-to” manual about a project

PREFERRED LEARNING ACTIVITIES: If you are an C-
quadrant thinker, you prefer to learn and act in this way:
• Listening to and sharing ideas
• Motivating yourself by asking “why” - looking for personal meaning
• Experiencing sensory input - moving, feeling, touching, smelling, tasting
• Using group-study opportunities and group discussions
• Keeping a journal to record feelings and spiritual values, not details
• Doing dramatics-the physical acting out is important, not imagination
• Taking people-oriented field trips
• Traveling to other cultures to meet people; hosting a foreign student
• Studying with classical background music; making up rap songs
• Using people-oriented case studies
• Respecting others’ rights and views, people are important, not things
• Learning by teaching others
• Learning by touching, feeling, and using a tool, object, or machinery
• Reading the preface of a book to get clues on the author’s purpose
• Preferring video to audio to make use of body language clues

PREFERRED LEARNING ACTIVITIES: If you are an D-
quadrant thinker, you prefer to learn and act in this way:
• Looking for the big picture and context, not the details of a new topic
• Taking the initiative - getting actively involved
• Doing simulations - asking what-if questions
• Making use of the visual aids in lectures
• Doing problems with many possible answers
• Appreciating the beauty in the problem (and in the solution)
• Leading a brainstorming session - wild ideas, not the team, are important
• Experimenting; playing with ideas
• Exploring hidden possibilities
• Thinking about trends
• Thinking about the future
• Relying on intuition, not facts or logic
• Synthesizing ideas and information to come up with something new
• Using future-oriented case discussions
• Trying a different way of doing something just for the fun of it

Cerebral
Left mode
Right mode
Limbic
Engineering
managers

Cerebral
Left mode
Right mode
Limbic
Finance
managers

Cerebral
Left mode
Right mode
Administrators
Limbic

Cerebral
Left mode
Right mode
R & D managers
Limbic

Cerebral
Left mode
Right mode
Limbic
CEO’s
male or female

Cerebral
Left mode
Right mode
Secretaries
Limbic

Cerebral
Left mode
Right mode
Strategic managers
Limbic

Cerebral
Left mode
Right mode
Entrepreneurs
Limbic

Skills and Competencies of the Four Quadrants
Quadrant A
Ability to
Appreciate
Relevant Facts
and Figures
Ability to Do
Logical
Reasoning
- Cause and Effect
Critical Thinking
- Determine
important
variables
among many
that would affect
the outcome the
most
Quadrant B
Ability to
Classify,
Categorize
Ability to
Order,
Sequence and
Program
Quadrant C
Ability to
Manage Self
Ability to
Manage Other
People
Quadrant D
Ability to
Generate New
Ideas,
Concepts
Ability to
Intuit
Ability to See
the Whole
and Sythesize
Ability to
Change One’s
Way of
Looking at
and Doing
Things

Application to Business, Management and Entrepreneurship
Quadrant A
Critical Evaluation of
Business Situations
Problem Solving
using Algorithmetic
Processes
Information
Technology –
Systems Analysis
and Design
Management
Analysis
- Financial Analysis
- Market Analysis
- Operations Analysis
- People Analysis
- Environment
Analysis
Business Pattern
Formulation and
Forecasting
- Trends
- Probabilities
Quadrant B
Business Data
Mining (Sales,
Operations, etc.)
Production
Scheduling
Sales and
Logistics
Routing
Information
Technology –
Programming
Accounting
(Financial and
Management)
Layouting
Work Flow
Schematics
Systems and
Procedures
Development and
Manualizing
Quadrant C
Getting Along or
Relating with
People
Dealing,
Negotiating and
Bargaining
Influencing,
Motivating,
Convincing
People
(Customers,
Suppliers,
Employees)
Leading People
Self Management
and Discipline
Managing Crisis
Situations
involving People
Quadrant D
Crafting
Revolutionary
Vision
Generating New
Ideas
Coming Up With
New Products
and Services
Innovating on
Ways of Making
or Doing Things
Intuiting Great
Business Deals
Extra Sensory
Evaluation of
People and of
Opportunities
Problem Solving
Using Heuristic
Process

Quadrant A
Lecture
Method
(Facts,
Figures,
Technical
Info)
Structured
Learning
Experiences
(Situational
Dynamics)
Case Method
- Logical
Reasoning
and Analysis
- Critical
Thinking
Appropriate Learning Methodologies
Quadrant B
Documenting,
Classifying,
Categorizing
Information
Workbook on
How To Do It
Sequencing
and
Scheduling
Techniques:
Gantt Chart,
PERT-CPM,
Process Flow
Process
Observation
of Situations,
Documenting
and
Describing
Quadrant C
Dialoging
Role Playing
Dramatization
Structured
Learning
Experiences
(People
Dynamics)
Reading Other
People’s Body
Language
Process
Observation of
People
Sports and Games
Extracurricular
Activities
Social Gatherings,
Events
Participation and
Involvement
Quadrant D
Creative Thinking Techniques -
Metaphoring, Reconfiguring,
Paradoxing, Synectics and others
Intuiting Techiniques – Meditation,
Mind Streaming, Remote Viewing
and Sensing, Dream Interpretation,
Daydreaming, Mental Telepathy, and
others.
Opportunity Seeking Techniques –
Finding the Unusual Successes and
Failures, Focusing on Irritants,
Recognizing Patterns and
Extrapolating Them, Serendipity
Walk and Others
Lateral and Oblique Thinking
Techniques
Experimenting and Reexperimenting
Exploring and Discovery
Experiencing and Reflecting
Heuristic Problem Solving
Frameworking and Modelling to See
Whole and Synthesize

CASE EXAMPLE:

Four quadrants thinking preference in the Banking
Industry
Terms used:
“Lending
fundamentals”
“Financial analysis”
“Understanding securities”
“Facts and figure
words”
“About the
future and
forward planning”
“Management issues
such as staff
selection”
Talked about
things like:
“Time management”
“Procedures”
“Administrative
Processes”
“Foreign
Exchange”
“Dealing with
customers”
“Customer service”
“Understanding people”
“Managing poor
performance”

Four Quadrant Type of Bank Customers
They want facts and figures
They want proof of safety and
how interest rates work
BANK
1
BANK
2
Quite challenging because they’ll
bring in comparisons with other
banks and they ask you “why
your bank is better”

Four Quadrant Type of Bank Customers
They want a bank that will help
them manage their life and
finances
Reasonably conservative, they
don’t take risks
Like accounts where you can
have detailed statements
‘Greens’ can be reasonably
high maintenance (Makulit!)

Four Quadrant Type of Bank Customers
Deals with bank because of
culture and people they know
‘Red’ needs support, trust and
honesty that include integrity,
safety and comfort.
Great advocates of the bank
because they tell everybody
about their great relationship
with bank service people

Four Quadrant Type of Bank Customers
Can get a little out of control. Not good
record keepers. Hate details.
Talks more about future and possibilities
Very innovative. Open to new products
and services. But will not spend time to
learn about them.
Frustrating at times because they change
and take risks.
Can also be extremely wealthy,
entrepreneurial.

Scenario: New Home Loan

BLUE CUSTOMER
‘BLUE’ people talk
about their homes
in terms of the
deal.
Bargaining down
the value of the
house
Appreciation in
value
Settlement time

GREEN CUSTOMER
‘GREEN’ people
talk about their
homes in terms of
how many
bedrooms.
How, ‘I won’t have to
do anything because it’s
just been painted
How convenient the
house is
‘How the house will
help me manage my
life’

RED CUSTOMER
‘RED’ people talk
about ‘feeling
wonderful’ about their
homes.
‘REDS’ won’t know a
lot of detail about their
homes but worried
about how people would
feel and use the house.
Saying things like ‘I
just walked in and the
garden was gorgeous!’
They’ll just have a
warm or friendly feeling
about it.

YELLOW CUSTOMER
‘YELLOW’ people
talk about potential
of the house.
How fantastic the
house will be after
improvements
What will they be
able to do with the
house
Thinking about the
architectural and interior
design

Decided to be a RED Bank
With relationship-oriented RED staff who can deal with
all colors of customers

“I HAVE EIGHT BRAINS” OR
THE EIGHT MULTIPLE
INTELLIGENCES”

MULTI-INTELLIGENCES WITHIN THE
FOUR QUADRANTS
A
• Logical -
Mathematical
Analytical
VERBAL-LINGUISTIC
Sequential
• Musical Rhythmic
(Classical Form)
B
Holistic
• Visual / Spatial
• Intrapersonal
• Musical Rhythmic
(Improvisation)
Emotional
D
• Bodily Kinesthetic
• Musical Rhythmic
(Emotional Content)
• Interpersonal
• Natural / Physical
C
• Spiritual

“I HAVE SIXTEEN
PERSONALITY TYPES”

Extraversion Introversion
More oriented towards the world
outside of the self, meaning other people,
the external environment and the
situational setting. Extraverted people
prefer to develop ideas by engaging in
discussions. They are usually overtly
expressive and take the initiative in
building relationships.
Introverted people are more oriented
towards the inner world of the self. They
are usually reflective and introspective.
They prefer depth to breadth. They want to
communicate in small groups or in writing.
They take the initiative when it comes to
concerns that are personally important to
them.

Extravert
Introvert
vs

Sensing Intuition
Sensing people prefer to deal in
factual, concrete, and actual things. They
tend to be procedural, practical and
realistic. They prefer the observable world,
specific evidences and experiential
validation.
People who prefer Intuition interpret
patterns and the significance of
information. They tend to imagine
possibilities, look at the big picture, discuss
ideas and theories. They rely more on their
hunches, gut feeling and inspiration to
make conclusions.

Sensing
Intuition
vs

Thinking Feeling
People who prefer Thinking in
their decision-making can distance
themselves from the issue at hand and use
their analytical, logical and rational
processes to arrive at a balanced, fair and
objective solution. They believe in using
definite criteria and principles in making
decisions. They believe in treating
everyone equally.
People who prefer Feeling in their
decision-making put themselves and all the
other people involved in the forefront to
ensure that their values are upheld and their
personal points of view are considered.
They are highly empathetic and
compassionate and are motivated by their
personal principles and the impact of their
decisions on people. They believe in
treating everyone as an individual.
.

Thinking
Feeling
vs

Judging Perceiving
In dealing with the world around
them, people who are the Judging type
prefer a well-ordered, structured, planned,
programmed and controlled way of
managing things in arriving at conclusions.
They want closure in their dealings. They
are highly systematic and methodical
people who do not want frequent changes
and vacillations. They plan and execute
well.
In dealing with the world around
them, people who are the Perceiving type
prefer open-ended, flexible and
spontaneous, experiential and changeable
conditions where they can use their
resourcefulness, adaptability and
expansiveness. They are quite comfortable
with constant change and are energized by
what is new, what is possible and what is
appropriate for the moment.

Judgement
Perception
vs

ISTJ
•Can be relied upon to get work done
•Keen attention to details
•Organized work
•Loves to weigh the pros & cons before deciding
•Puts closure in his decisions

ENFP
• Always coming up with
new ideas but tends to
not to focus
• Outgoing
• Loves people
• Not keen to details
• Decides on the basis of
what people want