Blinking words are those in a conversation that can be interpreted in many ways, depending on the perspective and experience of those sitting around the table. Dr. Harold Hillman discusses the importance of identifying the blinking words used in organizations to allow for more meaningful discussions.

Inner dialogue is the 'private conversation' that we hold with ourselves. During our conversations with others, also known as 'public conversations,' we filter the private conversation and only make public that which we assume will be accepted by others, or will assist us in getting what we want. Dr. Harold Hillman talks about the importance of sharing our 'private conversations,' also known as left hand columns, to increase the quality of our thinking and decisions.

In business, or life, It's easier to make the case for change during a crisis. It's much more challenging to make the case for change during a growth period. But that's the challenge of leadership and the sigmoid curve is a tool that helps leaders make the case for change.

The Ladder of Inference is a model of how we think in action. It is a tool that is used to show us how rapidly we can leap to a conclusion with no intermediate thought process as a result of our reliance on our mental models. Dr. Harold Hillman outlines the importance of being able to walk down the ladder to test our assumptions.

Using the metaphor of an iceberg, this video highlights the real causes of our problems (in business and our personal lives). Is it the external environment, or is it our own thinking? Dr. Harold Hillman suggests looking at our own Mental Models to help solve many issues we face today. (HD)

Effective leaders are also effective learners, which means that leaders have to make sure they facilitate high quality conversations with maximum learning. The ability for a team to learn together makes it easier for them to lead together.