Open to Think: Slow Down, Think Creatively and Make Better Decisions

by Dan Pontefract

Overview

While it may not occur to us on a daily basis, there is a widespread cultural tendency toward quick decisions and quick action. This pattern has resulted in many of our society's greatest successes, but even more of its failures. Though the root cause is by no means malicious, we have begun to reward speed over quality, and the negative effects suffered in both our personal and professional lives are potentially catastrophic. Best-selling author and Chief Envisioner Dan Pontefract offers the solution to this predicament with what he coins "Open Thinking," a cyclical process in which creativity is encouraged, critiquing leads to better decisions, and thoughtful action delivers positive, sustainable results. He proposes a return to balance between the three components of productive thought: dreaming, deciding, and doing. Based on organizational and societal data, academic research, historical studies, and a wide range of interviews, Open to Think is an appeal for a world of better thinking. Pontefract introduces tangible, actionable strategies to improve the way we think as organizations and individuals.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781773270289
Publisher:	Figure 1 Publishing
Publication date:	09/11/2018
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	3 MB

About the Author

Dan Pontefract is Chief Envisioner at TELUS, a Canadian telecommunications company, where he heads the Transformation Office, a future-of-work consulting group that helps organizations enhance their corporate cultures and collaboration practices. Previously as Head of Learning&Collaboration at TELUS, Dan introduced a new leadership framework–called the TELUS Leadership Philosophy–that dramatically helped to increase the company’s employee engagement to record levels of nearly 90%. He is the author of THE PURPOSE EFFECT: Building Meaning in Yourself, Your Role and Your Organization as well as FLAT ARMY: Creating a Connected and Engaged Organization. A renowned speaker, Dan has presented at multiple TED events and also writes for Forbes, Harvard Business Review, and The Huffington Post. Dan and his wife, Denise, have three young children (aka goats) and live in Victoria, Canada. He is also an Adjunct Professor at the University of Victoria. He can be reached at [e-mail] or at his website www.danpontefract.com.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments xi

Introduction 1

I Thinking

1 Cogito Ergo Sum 5

II Creative thinking

2 At the Lonely End of the Think 41

3 Come to Think of It 65

III Critical thinking

4 Think Hole 93

5 Great Minds Don't Think Alike 117

IV Applied thinking

6 Sooner Than You Think 149

7 You Have Another Think Coming 173

V Open thinking

8 Think Again 205

Afterword 229

Ten Essential Guidelines for Open Thinking 232

References 235

Index 249

About the Author 257

Editorial Reviews

With this book you can reshape your thinking to eliminate bad habits and strengthen your mind for the challenges of today’s business world.” Daniel H. Pink, author of When and Drive “We think we know how to think. And you do, kinda. But, as you’ll see, you’re mostly a high-performing amateur. Why not up your game and ‘go pro’? Combining solid research and practical tools, Open to Think will get you thinking better. And that means acting smarter.” Michael Bungay Stanier, Wall Street Journal bestselling author of The Coaching Habit

From the Publisher