May 29

Let’s go back to the party! We’ve got those who do what they feel, we’ve got those who move through the room like they were born for it. Now we turn our focus to the people who draw all of our focus. They are fun, and sometimes have harebrained ideas. They learn through trial and error by listening to their thoughts. These are the Dingheads. Their opposites fly under the radar, and learn how to behave at a party using their ability to listen and absorb the tone of the room. These are the Pinghearts.

Again, learning doesn’t begin and end with classes and tests, we also learn about how to behave in the world throughout our lives in big and small ways. Your quadrant is partially determined by what learning style comes most naturally - your default.

May 22

Let's talk learning styles. When we think about learning, we're programed to think of school. If you needed to look at it to absorb it, you were a visual learner, and if you could retain the history of Europe from a lecture, you were an auditory learner. But, how did you learn to behave at a party? Did you follow your gut using your feelings as a guide, or did you observe how people behaved? If you just rolled with what made you feel good until you got in trouble, you might be a Dingheart. If you are reading this thinking, 'I just knew, doesn't everyone', you might be a Pinghead. Dinghearts are internal visual learners, while Pingheads are external visual leaners, yet both may have thrived on visual aides in school, or benefited more from an engaging lecturer.

Consider how. you learn about how to move in the world, not just behind a desk.

May 15

Let’s officially introduce the four quadrants:

Pingheart - knowing others feelings comes most naturally

Pinghead - knowing others thoughts comes most naturally

Dingheart - knowing their feelings comes most naturally

Dinghead - knowing their thoughts comes most naturally

Think of these four people completing a project. It’s important to have someone who can naturally interpret the temperature of the group. Equally as important for someone to devise a plan that takes everyone’s needs into consideration. And we need someone to jump in and start the thing because they know in their heart that it’s time. Of course, we also need someone for that out of the box idea that will unlock things when the team is stuck.

Pingding asserts that someone’s quadrant is determined by their innate way of interacting with the world. We adapt as we age, and can often become more balanced. You might believe you occupy a few of the roles depending on who the team members are, and what they're doing. Does your role shift if you are at work filling a stock room vs. putting together furniture with people you love (at least when you started building)? So, consider who were you before you learned how to be in the world you occupy now.