Unlock the power of diverse thinking
In today’s workplace, success depends not only on what people know, but on how they think. The Herrmann Brain Dominance Instrument® (HBDI®) is a globally recognised assessment that helps individuals, teams and organisations understand and leverage their thinking preferences to improve performance, communication and innovation.
Developed by Ned Herrmann during his leadership of Management Education at General Electric, the HBDI® is built on the concept of Whole Brain® Thinking. Combining insights from psychology and neuroscience, it provides a practical framework for understanding how people process information, solve problems, make decisions and interact with others.
Rather than measuring intelligence or capability, HBDI® identifies an individual’s preferred ways of thinking and how those preferences may change under pressure.
The Whole Brain® model
The HBDI® framework identifies four distinct thinking preferences:
- Analytical (Blue)
Logical, fact-based and quantitative thinking focused on analysis, data and results. - Sequential (Green)
Organised, structured and detail-oriented thinking focused on planning, processes and implementation. - Interpersonal (Red)
People-focused, empathetic and relationship-oriented thinking focused on communication and collaboration. - Conceptual (Yellow)
Creative, strategic and innovative thinking focused on possibilities, ideas and the bigger picture.
While everyone can use all four thinking styles, most people have natural preferences. Understanding these preferences helps individuals and teams work more effectively together and make better decisions.
What participants receive
Participants complete the HBDI® assessment and receive a personalised profile outlining their thinking preferences across the four quadrants.
The report provides insights into:
- Individual thinking preferences
- Strengths and potential blind spots
- Communication styles
- Problem-solving approaches
- Decision-making preferences
- How thinking patterns may shift under pressure.
Participants also receive the Understanding the Herrmann Whole Brain® Model guide, providing additional explanation and practical application of their results.
For teams and leadership groups, additional Pairs Profiles and Team Profiles can be generated to highlight collective strengths, potential gaps and opportunities for improved collaboration.
Applications for organisations
HBDI® is a highly versatile tool that can be applied across a wide range of organisational initiatives, including:
- Leadership development
- Team effectiveness
- Communication and collaboration
- Strategic thinking
- Innovation and creativity
- Problem solving and decision making
- Coaching and mentoring
- Sales and customer engagement
- Change management.
By introducing a common language around thinking preferences, teams often gain a greater appreciation of different perspectives and learn how to leverage cognitive diversity as a strength rather than a source of frustration.
Why use HBDI®?
The greatest value of HBDI® lies in its practical application. Participants not only gain a deeper understanding of their own thinking style but learn how to adapt their approach when working with others who see challenges, opportunities and decisions through a different lens.
The result is often improved communication, stronger collaboration, more balanced decision-making and greater innovation across the organisation.
Ready to build a more effective team?
Whether you’re looking to strengthen leadership capability, improve team performance, enhance communication or foster a culture of innovation, HBDI® provides powerful insights that can drive lasting behavioural change.
Contact us to discuss how a customised HBDI® workshop can help your people think, communicate and perform at their best.