The Thinking Quadrants

We all must do life, to some degree or another, outside of our innate Thinking Quadrant. However, when we are placed in a prolonged role or situation that is outside of our natural Thinking Quadrant, we will struggle with the role or situation and can feel that we are not just overwhelmed but actually incapable. That is a sign that we are living, day in day out, in a Thinking Quadrant that is not innate to how we’re wired to operate long term.  

Of course, we can pick up different patterns or learn various tools to compensate but ultimately we thrive when our life is engaged in the same Quadrant as we are wired to think. When that is the case, work can be fun! When we are able to spend the bulk of our daily hours in the same Quadrant as that which we are wired for, we find that life comes more easily to us and work becomes play.

There are four different Thinking Quadrants: Detailers, Builders, Discoverers, and Innovators. The above graph depicts how the Thinking Quadrants work along the axis of abstract to concrete thinking, and from independent to collaborative thinking. We color each quadrant differently: blue, yellow, green, and red.

Finding Your Fun

The Thinking Quadrant gives us insight into how we naturally approach and interact with the world around us, into how we engage our thinking, and how to be in prolonged situations that are fun to us. It provides us perspective on how we are innately wired to engage life. The Thinking Quadrant is a framework that helps us understand why we do our best work in some roles or situations and why we struggle in others. The Thinking Quadrant reveals to us why some commitments may fit us well, will energize us and we will do our best work and why others will drain us and be a constant struggle.

One Quadrant is not better than any other. We can't change our Thinking Quadrant. Our own Thinking Quadrant is what it is. Knowing which one is ours helps us understand ourselves better. Understanding our Thinking Quadrant can help us to find our own fun!

As a DETAILER: 

I thrive best when I can make sense of my world and have arranged it in a way that is systemic, useful and effective. I tend to be more risk averse and I naturally mitigate any necessary change. I am at my best when I can independently focus because I’ve ordered my world to be simple and with few variables at play around me; I love lists! I enjoy knowing what is expected out of me each day and usually create a schedule that allows me to be incredibly efficient. In general, I don’t care for ambiguity and vague details, but rather am content when I can apply myself to do something faithfully and consistently. As a Detailer, I thrive in fields of study that require exact and calculated thought processes to find the answers. I enjoy arriving at the end goal and am usually affirmed for my punctuality, dependability, thoughtfulness, and attention to details en route. 

As a BUILDER:

I naturally see both sides of a situation; I appreciate what is currently working well, and I also understand the need to improve. While I think best with a foundation of order and structure, I still look for what is missing in order to refine the system. I usually thrive when I can find simplicity in the complexity, and translate high level concepts into practical functions and logical solutions to accomplish. I’m at my best in fields that require similar day-to-day tasks, but can engage in purposeful change and mitigate ambiguity as needed. I am often praised for my collaborative spirit, ability to see both the bigger picture while staying true to the task at hand, and my responsibility to get things done.

As a DISCOVERER:

I thrive when taking calculated risks, engaging change, and dealing with complexity. I’m at my best when I can go after large, long-term goals without a predetermined linear path. I’m comfortable taking leaps in my thinking to get to the goal, and love bouncing my ideas off a team. I readily gravitate toward a vision without the burden of creating it, and figure out how to accomplish it. I find joy in the journey as much as in the arrival. I thrive in fields that are more abstract and ambiguous and without a specific path or solution. I am often affirmed for my teamwork, ability to find solutions that aren’t readily apparent, and confidence in charting a new course. 

As an INNOVATOR:

I thrive best when I can embrace change and ambiguity; as an Innovator, I am comfortable with risk and new adventures. I enjoy the challenge of complex problems and tend to be more aware about the big picture than worry about the details. I tend to think conceptually and leave the methodology on how to get there to others. I prefer to think independently without limits, although I can work with others and within boundaries. As an Innovator, I thrive in fields of study that require constant change, many variables, and huge opportunities for both success and failure. I am often affirmed for my ability to think out of the box, my capability to dream up novel solutions, and to cast a vision that others can follow.