Anyone who is interested in thinking, regardless of ability or preference, is welcome in the SOT. Some of the different types of thinkers are listed to indicate the plurality of SOT membership:
– The logician
– The analyst
– The information compiler
– The idea generator
– The lateral thinker
– The detective
– The researcher
– The synthesiser
– The evaluator
– The critic
– The describer
– The clarifier
– The explainer
– The communicator
– The sales person
– The diplomat
– The leader
– The doer
– The observer
– The problem solver
– The problem finder
– The designer
– The explorer
– The organiser
– The system designer
– The group organiser
There is an obvious difference between the researcher who likes to ferret out information in a defined area and the diplomat who is sensitive to changes in people and situations.
There is an obvious difference between the critic who looks at what is and the lateral thinker who looks at what might be.
There is an obvious difference between the problem solver and the problem finder.
It is not just a matter of being better at one type than another–it is a matter of enjoyment.
Which types of thinking do you enjoy most?
DFQ #08:
Choose three from this list and post your thoughts.
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Last year I started volunteering at the Starlight Children’s Foundation. I joined for several reasons; I like kids, I wanted to make a difference, and I thought it might bring more balance into my life which often seems so self-absorbed. Doing something of service would offer a change in perspective and a more balanced view of life.
I was pleased with my decision to join especially since I had been putting it off for so many years. I started my first day excited but a little nervous. I spent some time playing with some kids which was fun. I started to settle in and consider how easy this was.
The I was asked to go on a ward visit and visit some of the sick children. This was like the turning of the tide. My enjoyment was quickly replaced by sadness and grief on seeing some of the sick children. If you’ve never seen an eight month old baby covered in bandages and with tubes sticking out of several places then you may not be able to appreciate the gut-wrenching emotions this can produce.
I had to remind myself that I was there for the children and getting upset was not going to help them. So I pulled myself together, put on a brave face and got back to the task of brightening these children’s lives – if even only for a minute.
I used to sometime think that kindness was an act of weakness. But after that day I realized that acts of kindness can sometimes requires a hell of a lot of strength.
I was working on a project a few years back.This was in the drier parts of my country.Funding for the actual project had not yet been released by the Bretton Woods institutions and their partners.i went on a field trip to observe some preparatory work that was ongoing.On my arrival members of my team in that particular locality informed me we had to backtrack in to confirm some trends.We needed to carry out some PRA.ie.participatory rural appraisals.These are tools that help to identify local peoples needs and also create a sense of ownership.This situation required a quick decision.a decision on where to find money to cover cost,a decision on whether to carry out the PRAs or not.After a group meeting back at base we all agreed we needed to cover that step.We drew up a budget i went down to the capital met two donor countries aid team.they accepted the rational and the budget and within one week our team was back in the field working enthusiastically.What i did was to take responsibility as the team leader.
For several years, I had an ideal job. I had engaging work, incredible autonomy and trust. My manager at the time told me he didn’t care about the details of what I did as long as I was successful. The organization, and I, thrived.
Then came the dot-com bust, 9/11, and the shifts in the economy that followed. Senior management showed less trust, micromanaged more. Business suffered. Layoffs. Lower morale, less trust, more micromanagement. My excellent manager left for another opportunity, and is a now a VP with his new organization.
New CEO, even less trust, nano-management, more layoffs. Organization begins taking large numbers of clients who will have great difficulty benefiting from our services, many of whom will be unable to pay the loans taken to finance them. As a “stretch” project, I was tasked with some of those clients.
After searching for and trying different ways to help these clients, I’ve decided that I can’t be a part of this cycle of failure and poverty. That’s why I’ve begun three projects to help lead me to future work that’s more in alignment with my goals, perceptions, and values.
In the background, clinking glasses and dishes mixing with the sounds of Coltrane. A dimly light room brightened somewhat by crisp white tablecloths. A glass of pinot gris in hand. Time at last to sit quietly before they arrive. A moment to contemplate and appreciate the beauty and perfection of the moment. I call it Bambini Trust.
Gratitude.
The other morning on my walk with my dog I bumped into a local old bloke who, like clockwork, everyday walks in the park with his dog. He has lived in my suburb all his life. We always say hi but yesterday was a special day. We chatted about our children, and then about a little boy we both know who is severely disabled. His family struggle a great deal to love and care for this child. There was a brief pause in the conversation as we stood beside each other with our dogs, in our beautiful park, sharing the realization that our lives are full and very lucky. After a moment we looked at one another with a few tears in our eyes and both felt so grateful for that moment of shared recognition for our blessed lives.
Love of learning or perhaps love of watching others learn.
I was a TAFE lecturer for a couple of years, teaching Information Technology. I taught a class called ‘APPS A’ (Microsoft Word and Access) and I had a student in that class who struggled badly. She was from a poor socio-economic background and I don’t think she had a good home life (she hinted at it when she ran late or was unable to finish work).
For the whole semester I watched her struggle with concepts that were ‘out of her league’ but she persevered and kept at it. At the end of the semester everyone sat the exam and I walked around watching them work (but not assisting in any way).
When I marked the exam I found that this person who had struggled so much ended up with a credit and I was tickled pink. I really enjoyed watching someone do so well, after having success stacked against them. I would like to think that the assistance and encouragement I gave her (and all my students) contributed in some way to her eventual success but ultimately the mark was hers alone.
The lesson from this is that despite what life throws in your way, you can still success if you persevere.
Gratitude
I started out as an electrical engineer and had a boss as company’s GM. He talks a lot about business, problems, customers, his studies, his life, all good and bad.
Sometimes, in late afternoon, he will call me into his room to listen to him. I am kind of getting bore of it as it is something that even he cannot fix. It was going on like that for 3 and half years I think. He is quite pushing and demanding and he will always ask for more, I am under regular pressure and working hard day and night to meet with his requirements.
One day, I decide to leave the company and let him know my decision. He blessed me and we had a one last good afternoon discussion together. The next day, I had a call from his secretary that he passed away due to a heart attack. Initially, I do not feel anything, but after 2 weeks of watching that empty room, I started to cry and cry. I miss him so much.
This event change my life as it make me realize that for all those years he taught me via discussions we have and I have never realized until I know that no one will teach me and give me advices anymore.
It was nice working with him and I will never forgot that, because of him, I can work hard and harder under pressure, be assertive and confident. Life is short and full of surprise, do not take it for granted.
Citizenship [social responsibility, loyalty, teamwork]
Quite a number of years ago I moved to the big city. I was waiting for a tram on the way to work. I was new to the big smoke and it was an active winters morning with people hurring to get to work. I got on the tram and felt the warmth of the heating as we all packed our bodies onto the public transport. This was the high life I was apparently seeking.
As sardines we stood, I looked across seated faces buried in newspapers. My eye glazed out the window at people sipping coffee in the Mall as others with life carrying them by. The city had a beat, a drive and momentum of its own as people were swept up in the mornings activity.
It was then out or the corner of my eye I saw the old man fall; a grey haired chap; with a long black coat. He stumbled and as people brushed by I wondered if he had been knocked in the hustle and bustle, His youth had foresaken him.
My instinct was to assist but instead I hesitated. The doors closed and we were away. Moments passed and I look back – he was still face down. Maybe nobody had seen him fall, maybe he was drunk, maybe he was dead, but something was wrong and nobody was helping, surely someone would stop…
It seemed like an eternity as the tram got further and further away. This time others were looking back too. Just then, finally, somone stops – and we lose site. We all exhale in sync and sympathy.
I vowed never to be that passive observer again, waiting for someone else to act. It was a game changing and self defining moment. A few months later a man was collapsed on the floor of the train in morning peak hour and as people stood around this time I didnt hesitate. As I helped him to his feet; with an almighty alcoholic spray he abused me because I had woken him up from his slumber from a heavy night.
Since then I trained for First Aide and I had a client collapse and have assisted in an accident. Just by chance and simply by being there, but not as a bystander, decisive and quick to assist.
This is another story about perseverance (and longer than 100 words!). About 10 years ago I was diagnosed with Graves Disease (hyperactive thyroid). I almost died as a result of it. There is no cure for Graves Disease and the treatment involved either to surgically removing or chemically destroying the thyroid or to take a course of medication that suppresses the production of thyroid hormone until the body ‘relearns’ to regulate its hormone production. While these are not particularly good options, I did feel that I had a right to make the choice about which path I should take. After six months of initial treatment to stabilise my condition, my first doctors, courtesy of the public hospital system, were pushing me to take the destroy option and not talking to me about continuing with the medication option. I only really learned about the viability of the medication path via my own reading and my own efforts to understand my condition. Despite the severity of my illness, I elected to pursue a medical path. I found another specialist who supported my decision. She agreed that removing or destroying the gland simply replaced one problem with another. She has helped me learn to manage and understand this condition. I am still on medication. I have relapsed twice since commencing the treatment, once again pushing my systems to life threatening states. Each time, the doctor has consulted with me about her proposed strategy and each time I have strengthened my resolve to persist with this path and the pursue my objective of normal thyroid function as a result of a non-interventionist approach. I have also tried alternative therapies and lifestyle changes to restore my health. My perseverance means that I am now in the best health I have been in for a very long time. Subsequently, I am in a better position to reach my goal of remission. It won’t be long now.
Strength – Kindness
The ability to care about the other person’s feelings, emotions and belongings is a good trait to have although I found this can also cause many problems.
Recently I came across a person in need of some kindness in their life. I listened to the story and offered to help that person get started in their business venture. My plan was to set them on the right path then let them go on their own. An easy and simple plan I thought. This wasn’t the case at all. Their idea of help meant me doing the work and being in business with them to achieve ‘their’ desired results. The more I reinforced the fact the only way the business would happen is if they did the action required without me having to be in business with them and to learn from it the more excuses and “I can’t” emerged.
It was time for the old adage “you have to be cruel to be kind”. Very hard to do when you really want to help but essential in helping this person realizes their own capabilities and skills. Yes it would have been easier for both of us to just let me do what was needed however the result would have been an ongoing need for my help. I remember a comedian saying “nice stops at Midnight!” For my sanity nice stops when people “act” helpless.