Whole Brain® Foundation
6 - 20
Group size
in person, virtual
Team type
Whole Brain® Methodology
Whole Brain® Thinking and the HBDI® provide a research-backed framework and assessment to understand thinking preferences, and strengthen communication, collaboration, and decision-making.
This interactive workshop introduces the Whole Brain® Thinking model and the value of cognitive diversity.
Participants explore the four thinking quadrants, reflect on their own preferences, and learn how to communicate and collaborate more effectively. Fast-paced and practical, it provides teams with insights and tools they can apply immediately - an ideal starting point for any Whole Brain® journey.
Why
In a fast-paced, complex world, cognitive diversity is a performance advantage. But it only works if teams understand it and know how to use it.
This workshop builds:
- Self-awareness of thinking strengths and blind spots
- Empathy and understanding across styles
- A common language to reduce friction and increase flow
- Readiness for applying Whole Brain® tools in real business scenarios
What
This workshop explores three key foundations of Whole Brain® Thinking:
- The Four Thinking Styles: Understand the core thinking modes — Analytical, Practical, Relational, and Experimental — and how they influence work, communication, problem solving, leadership and more
- Identifying Your Preferences: Discover how your brain prefers to think through interactive activities and discussion (with or without the HBDI®)
- Flexing and Applying the Whole Brain® Approach: Practice using the model to decode others’ styles, adapt your approach, and unlock better team interactions
How
Participants complete the HBDI® assessment prior to the session and receive their personal profile.
During the 4-hour workshop, they will:
- Learn the science behind the Whole Brain® Model
- Explore the four key thinking styles: Analytical (Blue), Practical (Green), Relational (Red), Experimental (Yellow)
- Discover their individual thinking preferences and how they play out under pressure
- Practice identifying thinking clues in others
- Apply their insights through interactive team exercises and communication scenarios Flexible delivery options available for virtual or in-person groups.
Who
Perfect for:
- Teams beginning their Whole Brain® Thinking journey
- Managers and leaders looking to align their teams and boost performance
- Individuals attending other Whole Brain® trainings (recommended as a prerequisite) No prior experience with the model required.
Details
1x4 hours (half day)
AV equipment (projector, screen, speakers) required
Spacious indoor venue
Comms platform (MS Teams, Zoom, Webex) & PC or laptop per participant for virtual version
Meet your trainer
Markos Mandes
GrowPlay® Trainer | Whole Brain Thinking®, Team Development & Personal Growth
Markos is a Herrmann HBDI® Certified Practitioner and experiential learning expert who helps people and teams unlock the full power of Whole Brain® Thinking. With a background in psychology, NLP, and more than two decades of facilitation, he designs workshops that blend insight, creativity, and interaction in equal measure.
At Summit, his focus is on helping teams strengthen trust, align their ways of working, and harness diverse thinking styles to achieve more together. Whole Brain® Thinking and the HBDI® have wide-ranging applications across leadership, communication, decision-making, innovation, customer service and more, and Markos brings these to life through engaging, interactive learning journeys. Using tools like LEGO® Serious Play® and dynamic group activities, he transforms complex challenges into opportunities for growth, always with an energy that inspires participation and sparks change.
Over the years, Markos has designed and led learning experiences for people at every level: from frontline staff to C-suite executives, across public and private sectors, multinationals, universities, non-profits, and even scouts, in multiple countries and languages. As a juggler, he knows it’s not about how many balls you keep in the air, but how you stay focused, balanced, and in rhythm — lessons he brings into every team experience.
His guiding belief is simple: on your own you may go faster, but together we go further.
