A Whole New Mind
Onslow County Schools CIA Institute
August 2-4, 2011
NSH
Presented by
Michele Halley
Warm-Up Activity
Right Brain, Left Brain,
Whole Brain, No Brain
A Whole New Mind
Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future
Moving from the Informational Age …
to the Conceptual Age …
“Information is cheap! But wisdom, artistry, creativity
and innovation – based on information becomes a rare
and valuable asset in our work setting and in our
homes!”
- author, Daniel H. Pink
Information Age vs. Conceptual Age
The shift to right brain thinking reflects the move from the
Information Age to the Conceptual Age.
From the Agriculture Age to the Conceptual Age*
ATG
CONCEPTUAL AGE
(affluence, technology, globalization)
(creators and empathizers)
INFORMATION AGE
(knowledge workers)
INDUSTRIAL AGE
(factory workers)
AGRICULTURAL AGE
(farmers)
18th century
19th century
20th century
21st century
* (from Daniel Pink’s book page 49.)
Four Main Differences
between Left and Right Brain
Left Hemisphere
Right Hemisphere
•Controls right side of body
•Controls left side of body
•Sequential
•Simultaneous
•Specializes in text
•Specializes in context
•Analyses details
•Synthesizes big picture
Both halves of the brain are fundamental for leading a
balanced, productive life, but the right side is gaining bigger
importance as we move through the conceptual age.
(book chapter 1)
SOCIAL and ECONOMIC FORCES

Abundance

Asia

Automation
ABUNDANCE

Scarcity vs Abundance

Left Brained “Knowledge Workers”

Paradox of Prosperity
ASIA
OUTSOURCING
“Knowledge worker, meet your new competition!”
Need a new set of aptitudes.
• Forging relationships vs. Executing Transactions
• Tackling novel challenges vs. Solving routine Problems
• Synthesizing the Big Picture vs. Analyzing a single component
AUTOMATION
Machines replaced human backs and heads.
 New technologies replacing human left-brains.

Any job that depends on routines that can be
reduced to a set of rules, or broken down into a set
of repeatable steps – is at risk.
Computer Programming
 Physicians
 Lawyers

While “knowledge workers” also known
as Left-Directed Thinkers have been the
mainstay of the world’s economy this is
changing as we move through the
conceptual age.
 We are shifting to an era where RightDirected Thinking will determine more
and more who gets ahead.
 Abundance, Asia and Automation are the
reasons for the shift and are nudging us
into the conceptual age .

(book chapter 2)
NEW APPROACH to
WORK and LIFE
“High Concept”
and
“High Touch”
“HIGH CONCEPT”

“High Concept involves the capacity
to detect patterns and opportunities,
to create artistic and emotional
beauty, to craft a satisfying narrative,
and to combine seemingly unrelated
ideas into something new.”
“HIGH TOUCH”

“High touch involves the ability to
empathize with others, to
understand the subtleties of human
interaction, to find joy in one’s self
and to elicit it in others, and to
stretch beyond the quotidian in
pursuit of purpose and meaning.”
IQ and EQ
According to the latest research, IQ accounts for what
portion of career success?
a) 50 to 60 percent
b) 35 to 49 percent
c) 21 to 34 percent
d) 15 to 20 percent
e) 4 to 10 percent
EQ




Imagination
Joyfulness
Cooperation
Social dexterity




People who master the abilities of high
concept and high touch will set the tempo of
modern life.
Artistic areas are gaining a more relevant
role in the business world. Companies and
business are seeking people with MFA rather
than MBA. The MFA is becoming the MBA.
IQ shouldn’t be the only measure of a
person’s potential.
EQ is gaining more importance as RightBrain capabilities become more relevant.
(book chapter 3)
To be successful in
the Conceptual Age
we master the SIX
High-Concept, HighTouch right-brain
SENSES.
SIX HIGH-CONCEPT,
HIGH-TOUCH SENSES
DESIGN
STORY
SYMPHONY
EMPATHY
PLAY
MEANING
These “six senses” increasingly will guide
our lives and shape our world.
Not just function but also DESIGN
Design (book chapter 4)
 “It’s no longer sufficient to create a
product, a service, an experience, or a
lifestyle that’s merely functional. Today it’s
economically crucial and personally
rewarding to create something that is also
beautiful, whimsical, or emotionally
engaging.”
Not just argument but also STORY
Story (book chapter 5)
 “When our lives are brimming with
information and data, it’s insufficient to
marshal an effective argument. Someone
somewhere will inevitably track down a
counterpoint to rebut your point. The
essence of persuasion, communication
and self-understanding has become the
ability to fashion a compelling narrative.”
Not just focus by also SYMPHONY
Symphony (book chapter 6)
 “Much of the Industrial and Information Ages
required focus and specialization. But as
white-collar work gets routed to Asia and
reduced to software, there’s a new premium
on the opposite aptitude: putting the pieces
together, or what I call Symphony. What’s in
greatest demand today isn’t analysis but
synthesis – seeing the big picture and,
crossing boundaries, being able to combine
disparate pieces into an arresting new
whole.”
Not just logic by also EMPATHY
Empathy (book chapter 7)
 “The capacity for logical thought is one of
the things that makes us human. But in a
world of ubiquitous information and
advanced analytic tools, logic alone won’t
do. What will distinguish those who thrive
will be their ability to understand what
makes their fellow woman or man tick, to
forge relationships, and to care for
others.”
Not just seriousness by also PLAY
Play (book chapter 8)
 “Ample evidence points to the enormous
health and professional benefits of
laughter, lightheartedness, games and
humor. There is a time to be serious, of
course. But too much sobriety can be bad
for your career and worse for your
general well-being. In the Conceptual Age,
in work and in life, we all need to play.”
Not just accumulation by also MEANING
Meaning (book chapter 9)
 “We live in a world of breathtaking
material plenty that has freed hundreds of
millions of people from day-to-day
struggles and liberated us to pursue more
significant desires: purpose, transcendence
and spiritual fulfillment.”
HUMOR
Surveys show that within
organizations the most effective
leaders are those with a good
sense of humor.
CULTURAL CREATIVES
See Big Picture
 Good at Synthesizing
 See “Women’s Ways” of Knowing as valid:

 empathy / sympathy
 personal experiences and first person stories
important learning style
 embrace ethic of caring
 Meaning is the New Money
SURVIVING CONCEPTUAL AGE
1.
Can someone overseas do it cheaper?
2.
Can a computer do it faster?
3.
Is what I’m/we’re offering in demand in
an age of abundance?
IN Conclusion


Information Age - MAZE
Conceptual Age - LABYRINTH
“ The ideal life is not a fear-fueled pursuit of
cheese. It’s more like walking a labyrinth,
where the purpose is the journey itself.”
-
Daniel Pink