Humans have different personality types, and one way to differentiate them is what author Daniel Pink calls L-Directed Thinking and R-Directed Thinking. L-Directed Thinkers predominantly use the skills associated with the left side of the brain, and are thus very logical and analytical. R-Directed Thinkers predominately use the skills associated with the right side of the brain, and are more creative and emotionally sensitive. In his book, A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future, Daniel Pink declares that the recent focus on L-Directed Thinking in the workplace will soon give way to a greater focus on R-Directed Thinking.
L-Directed Thinking has been important in recent years due to the increase in technology and its impact on modern American culture and business. Ironically, these changes have contributed to the greater need for R-Directed Thinking. With an increasing number of products in the marketplace, buying decisions are based on less quantifiable characteristics than before, such as design. Pink also believes that the skills possessed by R-Directed Thinkers are among the few that cannot be easily outsourced to other countries or performed by computers.
Both L-Directed and R-Directed Thinking have their time and place, but in the communication business, we especially value the latter. Subtleties in body language and tone of voice are detected and used more effectively by the emotionally sensitive R-Directed Thinkers. Knowing how to connect with someone on an emotional level is another R-Directed skill, and is the main ingredient that sets Speaking that Connects apart from other presentation training programs. While R-Directed Thinking may only be starting to gain importance in the general business world, it will never lose its value in the communication business. You can read a summary of A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future here or purchase it at your favorite retailer.
