Resources for

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Resources for Using the HBDI
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Table of Contents

• Guidelines for Using the HBDI 3
• Debriefing the HBDI Profile one on one 4
• Debriefing questions for HBDI profiles 5
• Expectations of the participant 6
• Giving feedback 7
• Reactions and wants of the listener 7
• Brain Dominance and Communication 8
• HBDIs dos and donts 9
• Moving from one quadrant to another 11
• Moving from one mode to another 12
• HBDI FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) 13-17
• Sample HBDI write up by Ned Herrmann 18-21
• Email version for the web HBDI 22

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Debriefing Questions for HBDI Profiles
Once the application context has been
established, use the following quadrant specific
questions to debrief the participants profile
results. A Quadrant Where am I with this
data? Participant's reaction towards the profile,
the profile's validity, and perceived
usefulness. 1. Does the data accurately reflect
how you generally see yourself? 2. How do you
think your past and present experiences with work
and education are reflected in this data? 3.
What surprises are there, if any, about the
data? 4. How does it align and confirm your basic
beliefs about yourself? D Quadrant Where do I
want to be in the future? Which future business
individual outcomes participants hope to achieve
from the use of the data. 1. What results, in
your professional or personal life would you like
to achieve from better understanding your
thinking/learning/working preferences? 2. What
aspects of your data do you wish to maintain or
do more of in your work/personal life? 3. What
quadrant areas would you like to develop more
preference in to be more effective in your
work/personal life? 4. What people resources do
you need to add to your team/life to give you a
more homogeneous or heterogeneous interactions
with others? C Quadrant Personal Insights about
myself others I can gain? Participant insights
potential changes with others as a result of
the data. 1. What do you see more clearly about
yourself than you did before? 2. What new
perceptions about yourself have you gained from
the use of this data that will be helpful to
you? 3. What ways will you change your approach
with others as a result of understanding your
data? (e.g. communication, leadership,
teaming) 4. What specific or general changes
might you make in your life as a result of the
insights gleaned from the profile? B Quadrant
How can I apply this immediately? Specific
actions the participants can take as a result of
their data. 1. Does your job responsibility at
present represent the quadrants in which you have
the greatest preferences? If so, how? If not,
how does it differ? 2. Are there ways you can
more effectively accomplish your job by better
understanding your preferences around work? 3.
What, if any, information from this data could
alter the way you do your work at present or in
the immediate future for improved
satisfaction? 4. What 2-3 goals/plans do you want
to put in place that will help you grow
professionally or personally?
Adapted from work by Gene Gallivan and Jane Allen
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HBDI DOS and DONTS

• 1. DO remember that HBDI is measuring PREFERENCE
  not competency or skills.
• 2. DO handle the HBDI in a voluntary,
  confidential manner, giving all data directly to
  the individual, not through an associate,
  assistant or boss and respecting participants
  who have notified you/HR that they do not want
  their HBDI scores shared.
• 3. DONT give HBDI data to the personnel
  department or employee relations organization to
  become part of the personnel record.
•  
•  
• DO prepare participants for understanding their
  profile by providing an understanding of the
  Whole Brain model (using Start Thinking, HBDI
  FUNdamentals e-learning, articles etc) prior to
  revealing their personal HBDI profile.
• 5. DO encourage participants to consistently and
  appropriately apply and leverage HBDI knowledge
  whenever possible when providing feedback,
• in communicating, in team meetings, in planning,
  problem solving etc
• 6. DO help participants measure how effectively
  they are able to use HBDI.   EXAMPLE
• -      by end of x ____ is aware of the HBDI tool
  and how it can be used in the _________ for ____
  results.
• -      by end of x ___ is using and expressing
  knowledge on how to use the HBDI to generate
  stronger more creative solutions by a multiple
  of___
•  7. DONT use HBDI as a selection tool when
  hiring.

Thanks to May Jefferson for her contributions to
this list
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How Do I Move From One Quadrant To Another?
To move from Upper Mode AD to Lower Mode
BC Respect gut feelings, value body response and
relax on intellectual modes
To Move from Upper Left A to Lower Right C Relax
on need for proof by facts and value feelings
To move from Upper Right D to Lower Left B Relax
on need for absolute freedom and value form
structure
To move from Left Mode AB to Right Mode
CD Respect intuition and value
instinctive, experimental, humanistic approaches
To move toward Left Mode AB Respect logic
and value planned, organized, rational approaches
To move from Lower Left B to Upper Right D Relax
on tightness of form structure and value
spontaneity
To move from Lower Right C to Upper Left A Relax
on intensity of feelings and value facts
To move from Lower Mode BC to Upper Mode
AD Respect cognitive processes and value the
balance of rational intuitive thinking
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How Do I Move From One Mode To Another?
Upper Mode (A/D) To Lower Mode (B/C) Learn how
to trust your gut reaction, become more aware of
your body, and use your senses more purposely.
This learning can be greatly aided by
understanding the visceral nature of the brain's
limbic system and developing confidence in your
body reaction, emotional responses, sense of form
and structure, and your natural instincts.
Right Mode (C/D) To Left Mode (A/B) Learn how to
use numbers, how to gather, organize and analyze
facts how to acquire self discipline. This
learning can be greatly enhanced by attaining
computer literacy, acquiring memory and
concentration skills, by achieving number
processing competence, and by acquiring and
practicing time management skills.
Left Mode (A/B) To Right Mode (C/D) Learn how to
sense, feel, visualize, play and trust your
instincts. This learning can be greatly aided by
learning how to draw/sculpt, experiencing
imagery, developing relationship skills, fine
tuning your intuition, and being open to change
and personal risk
Lower Mode (B/C) To Upper Mode (A/D) Learn how
to use both facts and insights, numbers and
metaphors, rational and intuitive problem solving
processes with situational effectiveness. This
learning can be greatly aided by understanding
the cognitive and iterative nature of the brain's
cerebral hemispheres. Practice personal decision
making by moving back and forth between hard,
fact based positions and soft, insightful
perceptions of the issue, and acknowledging the
equal validity of both modes.
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Frequently Asked Questions

• This FAQ will answer the following questions
• What is Whole Brain Thinking?
• What are the four preferences?
• How did my preferences develop?
• What is the research behind whole brain thinking?
• Why would I want to become more whole-brained in
  my thinking?
• How can I become more whole-brained in my
  thinking?
• In what kinds of situations can whole brain
  thinking be used?
• Is a preference the same as a competency?
• What is Whole Brain Thinking?
• Have you ever asked yourself How can people
  be so clever and so dumb at the same time? We
  have all met people who are very bright and
  capable in a given area or skill but seem totally
  incapable of something much simpler. The
  absent-minded genius is a good example.
  Scientific theory is no problem for this person
  but socializing at a party is. In business you
  often find a strategic, big picture specialist
  who never seems to notice details. How does this
  happen? Research on the brain has led to an
  understanding that each of us has a preferred way
  and mode of thinking that affects the way we take
  in and process information. The awareness of
  ones own thinking style and the thinking styles
  of others combined with the ability to act
  outside of ones preferred thinking style is
  known as Whole Brain Thinking.
• The model was developed by Ned Herrmann, while
  head of Management Development at General
  Electric. Herrmann was a physicist by training,
  so he was intrigued by how the brain could help
  explain the clever/dumb issue described above.
  Using brain research developed by others and his
  own studies, Herrmann discovered that there were
  four patterns that emerged in terms of how the
  brain perceives and processes information. The
  Whole Brain Model emerged as a validated metaphor
  for describing the four different preference
  modes.
• What are the four preferences?
• The metaphor divides the brain into four
  separate quadrants. Each quadrant is different
  and of equal importance.
• The Upper Left Blue A Quadrant specializes in
  logical, analytical, quantitative, fact-based
  thinking.
• The Lower Left Green B Quadrant is focuses on
  details and specializes in planning, organizing,
  and sequencing information.
• The Lower Right Red C Quadrant places a
  priority on feelings and the interpersonal,
  emotional and kinesthetic aspects of a situation.

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Frequently Asked Questions (cont.)
How did my preferences develop? Experts agree--we
are all the result of a combination of both
nature and nurture. The degree to which we lean
one way or another is the subject of ongoing
debate that spans hundreds of years. The genetic
predisposition we are each born with represents
the nature aspect of who we are. The brain does
not, however, exist in a vacuum. Every
interaction we have with the world literally
builds our brains throughout the course of our
lives. Our parents, schooling, work and hobbies
all have an impact. Due to the enormous impact of
our environment throughout the course of our
lives, Herrmanns theory was that we are who we
are from at least 70 nurture and possibly only
30 nature. This represents a message of hope for
individuals who are interested in ongoing growth
and change in their lives. It is useful to
reflect back on those influences and to consider
the array of influences youve experienced. It
can also be useful to explore ways in which you
can build new activities and interests in to your
life as a personal or professional development
strategy. What is the research behind whole
brain thinking? Contemporary understanding of
human brain function establishes that each brain
is unique and that brains in general are
specialized (e.g., left brain vs. right brain).
While experts argue about the degree of
specialization, there is general agreement on the
fact of specialization. There is also agreement
on the concept of dominance eye dominance, hand
dominance, foot dominance, ear dominance, and
brain dominance. While the body is symmetrical
in terms of organ duality, that is, humans have
two eyes, two ears, two hands, two feet, and two
hemispheres, experts agree that in the use of
these dual organs there exists a general
asymmetry. In other words, we use one to a
greater degree than the other. When combined,
the concepts of specialization and asymmetry of
dominance produce within each human being a
distribution of specialized preferences that
affect general behavior. Contained within the
brain halves are two sets of major structures
which are connected together. These include the
two cerebral hemispheres connected by the corpus
collosum, and the two halves of the limbic system
connected together by the hippocampal commissure.
These represent massive connections that allow
for direct interaction between the two halves of
the cerebral system and the two halves of the
limbic system. We know a lot more about the
function of the two cerebral hemispheres than we
do about the function of the limbic system. But,
more and more understanding about each of these
specialized areas emerges every day. While the
cerebral hemispheres are thought of as the more
cognitive, intellectual parts of the process, the
limbic system is becoming known as the more
organized and emotional aspect of our thinking
selves. A key function of the limbic system is
to transform information as it is input into the
brain system, so as to position it for
appropriate processing. By reason of this
role, the limbic system has a major effect on
memory.
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Frequently Asked Questions (cont.)

• Why would I want to become more whole-brained in
  my thinking?
• Whole brain thinking gives you the opportunity to
  improve both your work performance and your
  communication.
• Have you ever finished a project or task and
  said, Why didnt we think of that? Or have you
  ever thought, This person and I just dont
  communicate.
• Using whole brain thinking means being able to
  utilize the thinking preferences of each of the
  four quadrants. It enables you to take a
  comprehensive view of any situation and look at
  it from a variety of perspectives. The
  resultyou have literally thought of
  everything.
• In terms of communication, each quadrant has its
  own language which is the product of its thinking
  preferences. Typically, when someone is speaking
  a language we dont understand, we tune out.
  Whole brain thinking provides you with a
  framework for listening and speaking to other
  people. It enables you to hear what others are
  saying even when they are speaking in a different
  language. And it enables you to present your
  ideas in your listeners preferred language. The
  resultthe lines of communication are opened up.
  
• How can I become more whole-brained in my
  thinking?
• Paying attention to your own mental process is
  the first step.
• Think about your thinking. Look for patterns of
  when you become mentally stuck.
• Note what types of mental activities energize
  you. Which activities drain you?
• Begin to recognize the primary quadrants that
  represent your preferences.
• Analyze how your preferences may get in the way
  of your effectiveness. Are there certain
  activities that you avoid, put off, or dont
  perform as well as youd like?
• Seek out help for those areas, either by tapping
  into your own thinking or getting help for a
  colleague or friend. Take a class. Build some
  skills.
• In what kinds of situations can whole brain
  thinking be used?
• Any situation that requires thinking that goes
  beyond a given quadrants specialized mode can
  benefit from whole brain thinking. To insure
  that each quadrant has been explored in a given
  process, an approach called a walk-around is
  used. Here are four examples of frequently used
  applications of whole brain thinking
• Decision making Most decisions benefit from a
  thought process that includes the review of
  multiple options and perspectives. A typical
  example is the purchase of a car. Quadrant A
  thinkers look at information on the actual
  performance of the vehicle.

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Frequently Asked Questions (cont.)

• Quadrant B thinkers read a consumer report to
  gather research on the reliability and practical
  features (e.g., trunk size, safety records, etc.)
  of the vehicle. Quadrant C thinkers test drive
  the car to see if it feels right. And Quadrant
  D focuses on the aesthetics, color, styling, and
  innovations of each model offers. Using whole
  brain thinking--the thinking of all
  quadrants--contributes to a better choice and
  avoids unpleasant surprises. Overlooking even one
  quadrant can result in a less than ideal outcome.
  Imagine an individual that falls in love with a
  car because of the look, drive and feel, but
  neglects to check the trunk size only to discover
  after the purchase that his golf clubs dont fit
  in the trunk!
• Problem Solving Every problem situation can
  benefit from a Quadrant A review of the data and
  facts, as well as an analysis of the real problem
  at hand the Quadrant D big-picture context and
  possible creative ideas Quadrant C viewpoint of
  the customer of the problem and how the problem
  affects others and Quadrant B step-by-step
  process to solve the problem and implement the
  solution.
• Improving team interactions and performance
  Most teams are formed to make the most of the
  differences among team members. But very often
  those differences stand in the way of the team
  living up to its potential. Whole brain thinking
  can help a team to acknowledge the differences
  among team members and then use those differences
  to make the most of the ideas of each team
  member. In addition, once a team knows its
  preferences it can use that knowledge to enhance
  its communication with other teams and work
  groups which may have thinking preferences that
  are quite different.
• Communication The objective of most
  communication is to convey an idea, transfer
  information, or persuade someone. How many times
  have you experienced the frustration of
  delivering a message only to realize that the
  other person just didnt get it. In order to
  communicate effectively, it is important to
  understand the language and mindset of the
  person(s) you are communicating with. A whole
  brain diagnosis of the audience can provide the
  critical planning information you need to tailor
  your language and presentation to the audience.
  When the audiences preferences are in doubt,
  taking a whole brain approach to communication
  ensures that youve covered all the languages.
  This reduces the possibility of miscommunication
  and improves the chance that your message will be
  successfully received by the audience.

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Frequently Asked Questions (cont.)
Is a preference the same as a competency? A
preference for a given activity and the
competency required to perform that activity are
not the same thing. A good way to separate the
two is to think back to a time when you were in
school, and a subject that you really, really
loved. Your boundless interest would be more
like a preference. Having that interest did not
necessarily mean that you developed skills and
competencies--just that you were interested and
that your mind engaged easily and tended to be
energized when you were involved in that type of
activity. Now think of a subject that you really
hated or disliked. Imagine that you found
yourself in a job that required competency in
that subject area. You may have developed a
competency in that area but a considerable amount
of energy and motivation were probably required.
We often develop competencies in areas of lesser
preference that may require more effort or energy
than skills in an area of greater preference.
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Sample HBDI Write up by Ned Herrmann
Data Report for Jim, XYZ, June XX, XXXX Thank
you for submitting your HBDI. The data has now
been processed and the results are displayed in a
four-color, A,B,C,D vertical format on the
enclosed DATA SUMMARY SHEET. Your brain
dominance data has been summarized in the form of
a visual profile on the sheet marked PROFILE
OVERLAY. Your visual profile is also provided in
several sizes on a perforated sheet (3X5, wallet
size, desk version). When we score your HBDI, we
generate a total profile score for each of the
four modes of thinking. These scores may range
from around 8-10 to well over 100. Based on the
magnitude of the score, we refer to it as a
Primary, Secondary or a Tertiary. Any score of
67 and higher represents a "Primary" dominance or
preference. A thinking mode that is a primary
preference is where you like to "live", where you
enjoy "thinking" and "being". A score of 34 to
66 represents a "Secondary" dominance or
preference. Secondary preferences indicate a
quadrant that you will use as needed, a quadrant
where you are comfortable, and can move to or
access with some ease. A score of 0 to 33
represents a "Tertiary" dominance or preference,
and is actually a lack of preference or may even
be an avoidance of a quadrant. This is not to
say that this quadrant is never accessed, but
rather that a person may avoid thinking in this
fashion whenever possible (although they will
use those quadrants every day). In fact, in
avoiding certain thinking styles, the preference
of other modes is often actually increased. As
you look at your HBDI PROFILE OVERLAY you will
find the preference code for your profile
indicated in the four-color SUMMARY box below
your name. If you will read the paragraph
associated with your 1122 profile on page X of
the red booklet, you will get a basic description
of your profile. The comments that follow will
provide additional interpretation of your
personal brain dominance data, as well as an
analysis of your individual scores. Other general
information about the profile may be found in the
green booklet provided in your package. Your
1122 profile features two primaries both upper
and lower left, and two secondaries upper and
lower right, and is considered a "left mode"
profile since both primaries are on the left.
Data gathered from a sample of approximately
500,000 surveys shows that this particular
profile code is number one in frequency of
occurrence, is most frequent (21) of the males
in the sample and is the most frequent profile
seen in managerial or supervisory positions in
business. (This profile ranks fourth among
females at 10.26 . The most frequent profile for
females is 2-1-1-1.) This profile is typical of
occupations in technical fields such as medicine,
engineering and manufacturing, financial
positions, middle managers, and in general, those
positions for which left mode processing is
clearly most important.
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Sample HBDI Write up by Ned Herrmann cont.
Of your two primaries, the one in Lower Left B
(Left Limbic), with a score of 96 is your most
preferred quadrant. This quadrant represents our
controlled, conservative, planned, organized, and
administrative processing modes. Look at your
data display in the second column on the Data
Summary Sheet. Here you have selected 3 key
descriptors SEQUENTIAL, DETAILED and READER (in
this mode from a standpoint of technical
reading). In the work elements category, you
have given the highest value of 5 to
ORGANIZATION, a high value of 4 to PLANNING and
IMPLEMENTATION, and a median value of 3 to
ADMINISTRATIVE aspects. Your next most preferred
quadrant is Upper Left Quadrant A (Cerebral
Left), with a score of 83. Upper left modes of
thinking can be thought of as analytical,
mathematical, technical, and problem solving. In
this quadrant you have selected 3 key
descriptors FACTUAL, RATIONAL and LOGICAL. You
have further identified ANALYTICAL as the
descriptor that is most like you. (This is the 2
you changed to a 3 and shows here as an
asterisk.) In the work elements category, you
have assigned the highest value of 5 to
ANALYTICAL, a median value of 3 to PROBLEM
SOLVING and FINANCIAL, and a low 2 to
TECHNICAL. Your third most preferred mode, a
secondary, is Lower Right Quadrant C (Right
Limbic) with a score of 60. This quadrant is our
interpersonal, emotional, musical, spiritual, and
"talker" mode. In this quadrant you have
selected READER (in this quadrant from a
standpoint of fiction and "recreational reading")
as your key descriptor. In the work elements
category, you have given the highest value of 5
to INTERPERSONAL aspects, a high value of 4 to
WRITING, a median value of 3 to TEACHING, and a
low value of 2 to EXPRESSING. Your least
preferred mode, also a secondary, is Upper Right
Quadrant D (Right Cerebral), with a score of 54.
This quadrant represents our imaginative,
synthesizing, artistic, holistic, and conceptual
modes. In this quadrant you have selected
IMAGINATIVE as your key descriptor. In the
work elements category, you have given the
highest value of 5 to CREATIVE, a high value of 4
to CONCEPTUALIZING, a value of 2 to INNOVATING,
and a low 1 to INTEGRATION. The assigned (4
5) values to work elements in all your quadrants
suggest they are your more preferred work
activities, but I suspect you have both
competency and "comfort" with many of the other
activities. In looking at your data, you will
see that your educational focus shares Quadrants
C D, and the weightings for your occupation
as a Diversity Development Specialist, in
contrast with your profile, are spread equally
across all 4 quadrants, while your hobbies are
mostly lower right with some in upper left. This
suggests a very healthy work/hobby balance that
"exercises" all your quadrants.
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Sample HBDI Write up by Ned Herrmann cont.
Look once again at your Profile Overlay. Around
the visual display of your profile you will note
four percentages. These indicate your total
preference for combined modes expressed as
percentages. You have 61 for left mode thinking
(consisting of quadrants A and B), compared to
39 for right mode thinking (consisting of
quadrants C and D). This indicates a strong
22 (almost 2 to 1) "left mode" preference.
When comparing the two upper cerebral quadrants A
and D with the two lower limbic quadrants B and
C, you have 47 for upper, and 53 for lower.
This score indicates a slight 6 preference for
the more structured, visceral, and emotional
modes normally associated with the limbic system,
as opposed to the intellectual, cognitive, mental
activities associated with cerebral processing.
Your scores on Energy Level and Motion Sickness
indicate that you go with both of the trends
discussed on page X of the green booklet. You
indicated that you are a "day" person which is a
"left brained" characteristic. Motion sickness
is typically a left brained "control" issue with
right brainers being the ones who get sick. Your
lack of susceptibility to motion sickness fits
your profile and suggests that you have that
control although it may make it a bit harder for
you to move right when it is appropriate for you
to do so. A set of scores we observe closely are
your adjective pairs, the only section of the
instrument based on "forced-choices" between
quadrants. A comparison of your "pair" scores
with your "total profile" scores often suggests
something about your decision making process.
Adjective Pair scores are easiest to compare in
as the dotted line profile on your visual profile
overlay. In your case, your adjective pair
scores follow the magnitude of your profile
scores. Note that you do have a 9 with your most
preferred lower left (B) quadrant, and a 7 with
your second most preferred upper left (A). Next
you have a 6 with your third most preferred lower
right (C), and a 2 with your least preferred
upper right (D). This would suggest that whether
you have a "hard" or "push comes to shove"
decision to make, or a day-to-day decision, the
pattern of your thought process will be the same.
What I mean by this is that in thinking through
a decision, you will start your process by first
considering organizational traditions and values,
lower left (B), and second you will consider the
"bottom line", upper left (A). Third you will
consider the impact of the decision on people,
lower right (C) and last, upper right (D) to see
how the problem might be solved in a new or novel
way. Since many people change their thought
patterns when under stress, I would imagine
people around you appreciate your
consistency. Your profile suggests a more
clinical and traditional rather than experimental
approach to your educational focus of psychology.
In like manner, it suggests that your approach
to your diversity assignment is more
administrative than developmental.
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Sample HBDI Write up by Ned Herrmann cont.
We hope that you now have a better understanding
of your personal brain dominance profile and feel
comfortable about the way your data has been
handled and reported back to you. On a worldwide
basis, the number of people whose data has been
processed in a similar manner, now totals over
1,000,000 people. In a high percentage of cases,
these people have reported significant personal
insights in understanding themselves and others,
and a growing number have pursued their own
growth and development through available
programs. If you have questions about your own
data that have not already been answered, please
contact our office for further information.
Thank you again for the opportunity to score and
interpret your data.
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E-Mail Version for the Web HBDI
How your clients access the HBDI Copy the
instructions for that method into an email to
your clients. As an integral part of your
upcoming meeting, you will be attending the
workshop with (session name and date, 2006). In
order to provide you with more meaningful
experience, we will be incorporating some
individual and group data in the program. The
Herrmann Brain Dominance Instrument (HBDI) is a
validated and well-researched assessment that
asks 120 questions, to which your answers will
provide an accurate view of your preferred modes
of thinking. During the presentation, you will
receive a graphic overlay and data sheet on which
your personal profile will be displayed. This
data is a vital part of the session process, as
well as important to your understanding of
preferred thinking styles. As you respond to
these questions keep in mind that your data is
confidential that this is not a test and there
are no right or wrong answers You are defining
your own profile and therefore should answer the
questions based on how you see yourself and not
how others see you.   Note that in most e-mail
readers (except AOL's) any text beginning with
"http//" will automatically be interpreted as an
Internet address, and the email program will make
it a hyperlink.  To make a hyperlink in AOL, you
must make the address a "favorite", then drag it
into your e-mail message. Go to
http//www.hbdi.com       Under "Complete Your
Assessment" on the left at the top of
the navigation bar, click "I have a code" 
Click the flag to choose your language
Enter your access key/code _____________ in the
window. Click "Submit".  Click the
link for your group. This takes you to the
HBDI and you can begin taking the assessment   In
order for you to fully participate and receive
data at the presentation, your HBDI must be
completed no later than (date, 2006). To help us
process your assessment quickly and promptly,
please double check that your completed
assessment has been submitted properly by waiting
to see the confirmation screen. If you have any
difficulties, please contact (Contact Name)
immediately at (telephone number or at Contacts
e-mail address) If you are unable to use the
online survey for any reason, please
contact______ for a paper copy of the HBDI
survey. Thank you and we look forward to seeing
you in location)______________.   Sincerely,