That's a nice way to describe it Scott. Another disadvantage with the left brain/right brain metaphor is that it implies we're hardwired a certain way and can't change. Some people find it easier to change than others, but it's not like "I've only got a right brain, I can't do that stuff."
Kim, I think the whole left brain/right brain is popular because it's a nice layer of abstraction to explain why people behave the way they do.
I think the most important trait required is the ability to change perspectives, as mentioned by Tam Harbert. The ability to see a problem from multiple perspectives is how technical information can be transferred to non-technical people and is critical to good marketing, and I think it's the secret to thinking "outside the box". It's not really thinking out of the box, it's simply understanding the situation from the target market, and understanding that the target market's goals are different from the organization's.
I know plenty of IT folks that do creative things as avocations - they are musicians, writers, painters. In fact, there are a significant number of IT people who have liberal arts degrees that for one reason or another found themselves in IT. I think these are the people that will benefit the most from this new-found appreciation of the right brain.
I agree, Kim. As you point out, our thinking today is the composite of how we analyze and solve problems.
I think that is one of the distinctions of today as well. In that we have to solve complex problems requiring deeper thinking than just the luxury of one style versus the other, and resorting to pop science. We truly have to fully use our full brain power.
The left brain/right brain dichotomy is really a bit of pop science which has somehow become embedded in the culture. I don't think anyone seriously thinks that functions are confined to one part of the brain. What Tam's blog highlights is that different skill sets are coming to be valued in the IT world; some IT veterans will adapt to them easier than others. Talking about sides of the brain doesn't really bring any explanatory value to the situation.
I agree that people in the IT industry should certainly "think outside the box" especially in a management position. It is important for an IT manager to understand and be able to create useful information from data to benefit the organization.
What do you think is easier/better? Train a left-sided brain to look beyond the code, or to have a right-sided brain to think methodically?
Also, regarding the first part of your article, I believe that engineering doesn't make you anti-social, its just that "anti social" people tend to look for numbers and codes. Also, school doesn't do enough to teach those soft skills.
this is an endless debate i think, however we should keep in mind that for success we should not think if we should use our left brain or our right brain. Using the brain, and using it right is the most important thing. For success in any work that we are performing we need to foucs and concentrate, and that can come from either side of the brain, and it will be useful as long as it helps us acheive us what we want.
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