This article was originally published in 2019 and updated in 2025 to keep our readers up-to-date with the latest in organisational performance and team dynamics.
Why thinking about thinking matters
Struggling to find the right approach to a problem? Taking a step back and thinking about how you think—also known as metacognition—can help you gain clarity, adjust your approach, and find a way forward.
When you shift your thinking and adapt to challenges, you improve problem-solving, leadership, and collaboration.
By using metacognitive strategies, you can build mental agility in the workplace and think more effectively.
Why is metacognition important?
- By developing stronger metacognitive skills, you can:
- Â Make more intentional, well-thought-out decisions
- Â Adapt more easily to new challenges and changing priorities
- Â Spot and overcome biases that might cloud your judgment
- Â Communicate and collaborate better by understanding different thinking styles
The ability to shift and refine your thinking is what sets high-performing professionals apart. When you’re aware of how you think, you can adjust your approach to get better results—no matter the challenge.
Metacognition and Whole Brain® Thinking
What are the four thinking styles represented in the Whole Brain® Model?
Understanding how you think is one thing. Knowing how to use that knowledge is another. Herrmann’s Whole Brain® Thinking framework offers a practical way to apply metacognitive strategies by categorising thinking into four quadrants:
The four-colour, four-quadrant graphic and Whole Brain® are trademarks of Herrmann Global © 2019
- Analytical (Blue): Logical, data-driven thinking
- Organised (Green): Practical, detail-oriented thinking
- Relational (Red): People-focused, empathetic thinking
- Experimental (Yellow): Big-picture, strategic thinking
Recognising your dominant thinking style—and knowing when to shift your thinking to a different approach—can enhance problem-solving, creativity, and collaboration.
Each of us has access to our whole brain, which means we have latent abilities in all of the above mental processes. Agile thinkers cultivate them to an extraordinary degree.
Want to discover your thinking style? Take the HBDI® Assessment to gain deeper insight into your cognitive preferences.
Metacognitive strategies to improve your thinking
1. Develop self-awareness of your thinking style
The first step in applying metacognition is understanding how you naturally approach problems. Are you analytical and detail-oriented? Do you thrive in big-picture thinking? Recognising your tendencies helps you identify when a different approach might be more effective.
2. Ask reflective questions
Reflection is at the core of metacognitive strategies. Regularly ask yourself:
- What thinking style am I using right now?
- Is my current approach working, or should I try a different one?
- Am I relying too heavily on one way of thinking?
This self-questioning process builds mental agility in the workplace by encouraging flexibility in decision-making.
3. Plan, monitor, and adjust your thinking
A structured way to improve metacognition is through Plan-Monitor-Adjust:
Plan: Identify the best cognitive strategy before starting a task.
Monitor: Continuously assess whether your approach is effective.
Adjust: Shift your thinking style if you encounter challenges.
For example, if you’re brainstorming creative solutions (Experimental thinking) but struggling to turn ideas into action, shifting to an Organised approach could help with structure and execution.
4. Strengthen cognitive flexibility through collaboration
Working with colleagues who have different thinking styles expands your cognitive flexibility. For instance, an Analytical thinker might approach a problem with logic, while a Relational thinker considers its impact on people. Diverse perspectives lead to stronger solutions.
Herrmann’s Whole Brain® Thinking tools help teams leverage these differences to improve communication, decision-making, and problem-solving.
Apply metacognition and leverage Whole Brain® Thinking to become a more inclusive leader
Understanding your thinking style is just the beginning. The next step is applying this knowledge to your work. Herrmann’s HBDI® assessment and Whole Brain® Thinking tools provide a structured way to:
✅ Identify strengths and blind spots in your thinking
✅ Improve collaboration by understanding diverse cognitive approaches
✅ Develop metacognitive strategies to enhance leadership, problem-solving, and decision-making
Frequently asked questions about metacognition
1. What are metacognitive strategies?
Metacognitive strategies are techniques used to monitor, evaluate, and adjust your thought processes. These include self-reflection, planning, self-questioning, and adapting cognitive approaches based on the situation.
2. How does metacognition improve workplace performance?
By enhancing self-awareness and cognitive flexibility, metacognition helps individuals make better decisions, adapt to challenges, and collaborate effectively. It’s especially valuable in leadership, problem-solving, and innovation.
3. How can I develop metacognitive skills?
You can develop metacognitive skills by:
- Practicing self-reflection and questioning your thought processes
- Seeking feedback on your thinking style
- Using tools like Whole Brain® Thinking recognise and shift your cognitive approach
4. What is the link between metacognition and thinking styles?
Metacognition helps you recognise your thinking style and intentionally adjust it when needed. Understanding how you naturally process information, you can consciously shift to a more effective thinking mode for different tasks.
