5 Minds for the Future

Every New Year’s Eve I think about the year – the good, the bad and even the ugly in order to plan improvement strategies for the coming year. I have been curious, lately, about the changes that this economy has brought to the workplace. What kind of employee will be the most desirable as the recovery ensues? The answer isn’t a simple one, but it is exciting.

Howard Gardner, a psychologist and Harvard professor, defines what kind of intelligences will thrive in the 21st century of speed and information in his book, 5 Minds for the Future. This is the kind of book that will not only shape your new year; but shape how you think about yourself as an employee. It will also shape your views on who you are looking to add to your team in the near future. This book, however, is not a bit of fluff to read with half of your mind while you watch TV. You will need some time and space to read this piece of work, and absorb its contents. However, it is well worth it.

I have a question for you. Where were you on New Year’s Eve in 1999? That was the year of the “Y2K” scare. Did you have a fully stocked pantry for the potential “techno-crisis”? Were you partying the night away? Did you watch with family as the ball dropped in Times Square? What was your demeanor? As I sit here writing this review on my laptop while with my iPhone, I can’t help but laugh. This book is made for those of you who looked past the world-ending scare in 1999 and into the technology driven future that was ahead. This book is the kind of book that will keep you in that visionary place. It will keep you looking toward the future (your future) and the possibilities that lie in its path.

Howard Gardner believes there are 5 minds that will thrive in the future. I can see myself in a little of each of them, and see the importance of each. After reading this book, I am committed to fine tune each kind of mind described in the book during 2010 and beyond.

The Disciplined Mind
The first mind examined by Gardner is the Disciplined Mind. When reading this I couldn’t help but to think about people like Mozart, Michael Phelps and my favorite college professor. While certainly different, they share one thing in common: discipline. They trained their mind to practice a skill, and they became an expert in their field. They excelled through discipline.

The Synthesizing Mind
The second kind of mind probed in Gardner’s book is the Synthesizing Mind. When I read about this kind of mind, I thought of the most organized people that I know. I could literally see the step-by-step process this type of person goes through to make decisions and live. They gather, analyze, compute and translate it all into layman’s terms. Examples of this kind of mind are great professors, pastors, or instructors. They gather information, study it, and analyze it in order to deliver it to the rest of us in a clear format consisting of digestible pieces.

The Creating Mind
The third type of mind inspected by Gardner is the Creating Mind. I immediately thought, “Oh, this is the one everyone wants to be and be thought of, creative.” I do believe, though, after reading about this mind-type that there is a lot more pressure on this sort of person to be out-of-the-box and distinctly original. They certainly deserve much more respect than they get. These are the people among us who actually discover new problems, new questions, and phenomena . . .and new ways to approach them. These people have a truly beautiful mind.

The Respectful Mind
Gardner, next, defines the Respectful Mind. What a great mind to have. This person is the one some people may call a “saint”. This type of thinker looks at every situation, person and idea without a preconceived notion. They go beyond being diplomatic and really strive to understand all human groups. These people are able to form and maintain good relationships with people. In this interlinked world, this type of mind will be invaluable.

The Ethical Mind
The fifth mind that Gardner explores is the Ethical Mind. This mind is essential to every aspect of our lives. We live in an era in which scandals like the AIG fiasco and the Enron debacle have made cynics of us all. This kind of person doesn’t just do what is required; they go above and beyond. This is the person who goes the extra mile in a project at work, the friend that not only picks you up from the airport, but brings you your favorite beverage – this is the person that is truly considerate of the needs of their employer and the people in their lives. While I was reading about this mind, I could hear my dad telling me, “Amanda, the way to get noticed is to be a degree above average.” He always encouraged me to go beyond average expectations and mere requirements to step beyond my own self-interest, and reach into others’ true needs. This kind of person will do this for their employer as well as their personal relationships. This person knows their responsibilities to their fellow human beings they are mindful of their duties as citizens of the world and workplace. Incidentally, this person is the one who got you what you really wanted for Christmas . . . not their perception of what you needed.

I hope my experience with Howard Gardner’s book encourages you to start off your new year with this book. It is a great tool, not just for HR Managers, but for everyone who is looking toward the future of the workplace with excitement and anticipation. The future will always be unpredictable, but with this book, you can face it with tools to thrive in the new economy.