Contents

About the author

Introduction

1    Your mind at work

Is your brain working now?

The functions of the mind

Introducing the Depth Mind principle

Key points

2    The art of effective decision making

Define the objective

Collect relevant information

Generate feasible options

Make the decision

Implement and evaluate

Key points

3    Sharing decisions with others

Your role as leader

Task need

Team maintenance need

Individual needs

The three circles interact

The functions of leadership

Key points

4    Key problem-solving strategies

How problems differ from decisions

A unified model for decision making and problem solving

Asking the right questions

How to approach systems problems

Key points

5    How to generate ideas

Brainstorming

Guidelines for brainstorming

How to run a brainstorming session

Key points

6    Thinking outside the box

Towards a more creative approach

Look wider for solutions

How to use your Depth Mind

The creative thinking process

Mental roadblocks

Key points

7    Developing your thinking skills

What is an effective practical thinker?

Check that you are in the right field

Key factors in choosing your field of work

How to design your own learning strategy

Key points

Appendix

Further reading

Index