Positive Intelligence: The Mindset Shift to Lead with Innovation and Joy
Creativity and adaptability have become the cornerstones of success in a world driven by constant change and complexity. Yet, many overlook the most profound driver of these qualities: MINDSET!
Positive Intelligence (PQ) offers an approach to unlocking your creative potential, fostering resilience, and transforming challenges into opportunities for growth. Discover how PQ can help you thrive—with clarity, purpose, and joy.
Illustration Pierre Guité (Mid-Journey-AI) A person walking along a narrow wooden bridge that extends into a foggy horizon, symbolizing the journey into the unknown and the pursuit of clarity amidst complexity.
A Catalyst for Innovation
Creativity and adaptability determine success in today’s fast-paced, ever-changing landscape. Amid technological advancements and complex challenges, one often overlooked yet profound driver of change is mindset.
Positive Intelligence (PQ), introduced by Shirzad Chamine in 2012 in his book, provides a transformative framework for reshaping how we think, act, and innovate. It’s not about mere positivity—it’s about cultivating a mental environment where creativity thrives, ideas flourish, and challenges become growth opportunities.
A Bridge Between Mind and Innovation
Positive Intelligence is more than a self-help concept; it is deeply rooted in neuroscience, psychology, and performance science. Modern research reveals that innovation emerges not from isolated brain regions but from the integration of logical reasoning and creative exploration.
The traditional notion of the brain as a split system—where the left hemisphere handles logic and language while the right hemisphere oversees creativity and emotion—has been replaced by a more sophisticated understanding. Recent research underscores the collaborative nature of the brain, revealing that innovation, creativity, and problem-solving arise from the integration of both hemispheres.
Let me explain.
Functional Specialization Meets Collaboration
While certain brain areas exhibit specialization—like the planum temporale for language or spatial reasoning tasks—creativity and innovation depend on their ability to work together. For example:
Language Processing: A traditionally left-hemisphere-dominant task requires the right hemisphere’s contribution to interpreting tone and nuance.
Problem Solving: Logical reasoning engages one part of the brain, while abstraction and visualization rely on another, demonstrating the collaborative nature of cognition.
This interplay mirrors Positive Intelligence’s call for integrating emotional and rational thinking to unlock potential.
Dispelling the Myth:
Left-Brained vs. Right-Brained Personalities
The popular idea of people being "left-brained" (logical) or "right-brained" (creative) is a myth. Neuroimaging studies reveal that both hemispheres are active across various tasks, from creative brainstorming to data analysis. Personality traits and cognitive abilities are not determined by the dominance of one hemisphere but rather by the dynamic interplay between both sides.
Asymmetry and Individual Variability
While certain brain structures show unique differences, such as those involved in language processing, these variations reflect diverse thinking styles rather than fixed abilities.
Positive Intelligence aligns with this complexity by emphasizing mental fitness practices that encourage adaptability and balance rather than rigid categorizations.
This scientific understanding aligns with the principles of Positive Intelligence, which encourage collaboration between logical and creative mental capacities.
This exploration aligns perfectly with the theme of transformation that anchors The Innovative Mind. By quieting our "Saboteurs"—the inner voices of fear and self-doubt—and amplifying the powers of our "Sages," we open ourselves to a world of possibilities.
Saboteurs: The Invisible Roadblocks to Creativity
Illustration Pierre Guité (Mid-Journey-AI) A man with sunglasses, gazing upward with determination amidst a lush green background, portraying introspection and self-awareness needed to combat inner Saboteurs.
At the core of PQ lies the need to identify and weaken our inner “Saboteurs”—negative mental patterns that hinder innovation, collaboration, and growth. While these patterns often originate as protective mechanisms, they quickly become exaggerated, becoming significant obstacles.
The Judge: The Master Saboteur
The Judge is the most pervasive and damaging Saboteur, thriving on fear, guilt, and shame. It harshly evaluates your actions, others’ behaviors, and external circumstances. This critical voice amplifies self-doubt, fosters conflict, and perpetuates dissatisfaction while masquerading as rationality.
Judging Yourself: The Judge creates a constant feeling of inadequacy, undermining confidence and motivation.
Example: A minor mistake leads to relentless self-criticism, convincing you that you're incapable of success.
Judging Others: The Judge exaggerates flaws in others, eroding trust and collaboration.
Example: You view a colleague’s mistake as incompetence, damaging relationships.
Judging Circumstances: It convinces you that happiness depends on external conditions.
Example: “I’ll only be happy when I achieve X,” placing fulfillment perpetually out of reach.
The Lies of the Judge
The Judge thrives on the false belief that criticism ensures high standards and prevents complacency. In reality, it undermines confidence and creativity. The Judge’s influence creates unnecessary suffering, sabotages performance, and inhibits creativity. Its methods of fear, guilt, and shame make it a primary target for reduction in Positive Intelligence.
Illustration Pierre Guité (Mid-Journey-AI) A woman’s face partially blended with streaks of orange light, illustrating the distractions caused by mental Saboteurs but also the potential for clarity through positive intelligence.
Excessive Self-Criticism: Instead of encouraging growth, the Judge’s voice becomes harsh and debilitating, fostering fear of failure and undermining confidence.
Example: After a failed pitch, the Judge doesn’t just suggest ways to improve—it convinces you that you’re incapable of success.
Paralyzing Doubt: The Judge’s influence can lead to inaction. If every idea is deemed inadequate, no risks are taken, and creativity is stifled.
Example: You abandon a bold idea because the Judge convinces you it’s not perfect, even before testing it.
While the Judge is the master Saboteur, its influence rarely operates alone. It often collaborates with a cast of nine Accomplice Saboteurs, each of which brings its unique flavor of sabotage, tailored to exploit specific fears, insecurities, or behavioral tendencies. These accomplices amplify the Judge’s impact, creating a web of self-doubt, procrastination, or interpersonal friction that inhibits growth and innovation. By understanding these accomplice Saboteurs, we can identify their patterns, disarm their tactics, and free ourselves from their limiting grip.
Let’s discover the nine other Saboteurs that work alongside the Judge, each with its own unique way of holding you back. Understanding their traits and tactics is the first step toward reclaiming your mental freedom and unlocking your full potential.
The Controller
Positive Intent: Promotes leadership and decisiveness.
Risk to Innovation: Micromanages and stifles team creativity.
Example: You insist on controlling every aspect of a project, leaving no room for team input or collaboration.
The Hyper-Achiever
Positive Intent: Encourages ambition and goal-setting.
Risk to Innovation: Links self-worth to success, causing burnout and superficial innovation.
Example: You focus only on short-term wins, ignoring long-term creative strategies.
The Stickler
Positive Intent: Ensures high standards and attention to detail.
Risk to Innovation: Perfectionism delays progress and discourages experimentation.
Example: You spend excessive time tweaking minor details, missing opportunities to launch innovative ideas.
The Pleaser
Positive Intent: Fosters relationships and harmony.
Risk to Innovation: Neglects personal needs and authentic expression.
Example: You prioritize pleasing others over sharing bold, original ideas.
The Avoider
Positive Intent: Maintains peace and minimizes conflict.
Risk to Innovation: Procrastinates and avoids addressing critical challenges.
Example: You delay confronting a project’s flaws, allowing problems to escalate.
The Victim
Positive Intent: Brings emotional depth and sensitivity.
Risk to Innovation: Encourages self-pity, leading to a lack of proactive problem-solving.
Example: After a team failure, you dwell on the setback instead of brainstorming solutions.
The Restless
Positive Intent: Fuels enthusiasm and curiosity.
Risk to Innovation: Creates constant dissatisfaction, causing a lack of focus.
Example: You jump from one project to another, leaving ideas half-formed and incomplete.
The Hyper-Rational
Positive Intent: Strengthens logical reasoning and objectivity.
Risk to Innovation: Dismisses emotions and collaboration, limiting holistic solutions.
Example: You reject creative ideas from team members because they lack immediate data to back them up.
The Hyper-Vigilant
Positive Intent: Ensures caution and preparedness.
Risk to Innovation: Creates chronic anxiety, draining energy and focus.
Example: You spend excessive time worrying about potential problems, missing opportunities to act.
By identifying these Saboteurs, we can begin loosening their grip on our decision-making and creative processes.
While Saboteurs undermine our potential by clouding our judgment and sapping our energy, Sage powers provide the mental clarity and resilience needed to overcome challenges and thrive.
Activating the Sages: Unlocking the Power of the Mind
Your Sages represent your higher mental capabilities—empathy, curiosity, creativity, and action—freer from the interference of Saboteurs. The Sage thrives in the PQ brain, focusing on opportunity, resilience, and fulfillment.
Illustration Pierre Guité (Mid-Journey-AI) A woman’s face with a serene lake and mountain scape seen through her profile, symbolizing inner wisdom and the ability to see the bigger picture in overcoming challenges.
The Five Sage Powers
1 - Empathy
What It Does: Empathy silences self-criticism by fostering kindness toward yourself and others.
How It Helps: It creates a safe mental environment where mistakes are opportunities to grow, not reasons for guilt or fear.
Example Practice: Close your eyes and imagine speaking to a younger version of yourself. What kind words would you share to support their growth?
2 - Exploration
What It Does: This power embodies curiosity and an open mind, driving you to seek insights and possibilities without judgment. It invites you to view the world with fresh eyes.
How It Helps: Exploration removes mental barriers and sparks creative thinking, making tackling challenges and exploring unconventional solutions easier.
Example Practice: Imagine tackling a problem by asking, ‘What would happen if we approached this from an entirely new angle?’ This simple question can spark breakthrough ideas.
3 - Navigation
What It Does: .Navigation aligns your actions with your values and long-term goals while equipping you to anticipate and adapt to unexpected changes. It’s like steering a ship through uncharted waters: you may encounter obstacles but recalibrate to stay on course toward your ultimate destination.
How It Helps: This Sage power clarifies decision-making by keeping you focused on what truly matters. It enables you to anticipate potential challenges, remain adaptable, and make purposeful choices that bring you closer to meaningful success.
Example Practice: Use the Flash Forward exercise: Imagine yourself years from now, reflecting on today’s decision. What choice would you be most proud of? When planning a project, identify potential roadblocks and brainstorm how to navigate them while staying true to your ultimate goal.
4 - Innovation
What It Does: The Sage’s innovation power generates new ideas and perspectives. It allows you to reframe problems and devise creative solutions.
How It Helps: By breaking free from conventional thinking, innovation helps you overcome challenges and find opportunities in adversity.
Example Practice: Play the "Yes, and..." game. Instead of shutting down ideas, build on them by saying, “Yes, and we could also…” This practice generates momentum and fosters creative breakthroughs.
5 - Activation
What It Does: Activation transforms intention into decisive, focused action. It helps you overcome procrastination, doubt, and fear, allowing you to act confidently.
How It Helps: By staying present and taking action, activation ensures progress without wasted energy or distraction.
Example Practice: Emulate the calm focus of a martial arts master, taking action with precision and confidence.
Transformation in Action: Stories of Positive Intelligence
Illustration Pierre Guité (Mid-Journey-AI) A woman with closed eyes surrounded by fluttering butterflies, reflecting transformation, mindfulness, and the power of Sage thinking in cultivating creativity and growth.
The theory of PQ comes alive through real-world examples. Consider the humanitarian chef José Andrés, whose work with World Central Kitchen demonstrates Sages' thinking in action. Faced with crises like hurricanes and earthquakes, Andrés consistently reimagines solutions, mobilizing resources in innovative ways to deliver meals to those in need.
A Leader’s Journey with Positive Intelligence
Frank, the CEO of a publicly traded company, experienced the greatest despair of his career when his company’s stock plummeted during the 2008 recession, losing two-thirds of its value. Consumed by guilt and self-doubt, he struggled to find a way forward. At work, stress and blame dominated his leadership team, while sleepless nights at home left him feeling defeated.
Using Positive Intelligence principles, Frank began reframing his team's challenges. Together, they posed a powerful question: “What do we need to do so that within three years, we can say this crisis was the best thing that happened to our company?” This shift from fear to curiosity sparked creativity and resolute action among the team.
Within six months, they streamlined operations and realigned their company’s focus with its core values. Over time, the company regained its footing and flourished. For Frank, however, the true transformation was personal. His increased Positive Intelligence brought professional success and a profound sense of peace and happiness as he stopped equating success with his sense of self-worth. This example reinforces PQ's role in professional recovery and personal well-being.
Leaders who embrace PQ-inspired approaches have transformed workplace cultures, fostering environments where creativity and collaboration are celebrated in the corporate world. These transformations are not accidental; they result from intentional practices that shift organizations from survival to growth.
From Theory to Practice: Strengthening Your Positive Intelligence
Adopting PQ isn’t an overnight process, but the benefits are profound. Here’s how you can begin your journey:
Daily PQ Exercises:
Practice mindfulness by focusing on sensory details during ordinary activities, such as walking or eating.
Reframe challenges using the "Three Gifts" method, asking:
What can I learn from this?
How can this make me stronger?
How can I use this moment to inspire others?
Cultivate a Growth-Oriented Mindset:
Recognize setbacks as temporary and solvable.
Foster curiosity by exploring new perspectives, industries, and disciplines.
Incorporate PQ into Team Dynamics:
Encourage team members to identify and share their Saboteurs, creating a culture of openness.
Use the Rule of 10% to find value in each idea shared during brainstorming sessions.
The Ripple Effect of Positive Intelligence
The transformation sparked by PQ doesn’t end with individuals. It ripples outward, reshaping teams, organizations, and communities. Leaders who embody Sages’ thinking inspire those around them to do the same, creating a culture where innovation becomes the norm.
At The Innovative Mind, we see Positive Intelligence as a cornerstone of the philosophical exploration of transformation. Adopting Positive Intelligence reshapes how we navigate challenges and opportunities, enabling us to lead with creativity, resilience, and purpose. It’s a roadmap for personal growth and fostering innovation that transforms teams, communities, and industries.
Teams that embrace PQ practices often see stronger collaboration and increased innovation as individuals become more attuned to their strengths and the strengths of others.
Imagine a workplace where individuals armed with high PQ approach challenges collaboratively and with curiosity—transforming conflict into opportunities for growth and innovation.
Innovation Starts Within
Positive Intelligence is a transformative framework that redefines how we approach creativity and innovation. It challenges us to navigate the unseen paths of our minds, breaking free from the chains of Saboteurs and embracing the sages within.
PQ offers a roadmap for navigating complexity with clarity and purpose in a world that demands constant adaptation. It’s not just about thinking differently—it’s about being different and reshaping how we engage with the world and leaving a lasting impact.
Are you ready to redefine success by thriving with happiness, clarity, and resilience?
High Positive Quotient (PQ) is not just a tool for success—it’s the key to thriving. Much like Emotional Intelligence (EQ) helps us manage relationships and emotions, PQ empowers us to master our minds, transforming how we experience challenges. With a high PQ, you don’t just achieve more; you do so with greater happiness, reduced stress, and a profound sense of well-being.”
How would your life change if success also brought joy, resilience, and fulfillment? Begin your journey with Positive Intelligence and discover how to unlock your full creative potential while living a happier, more fulfilling life.
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Source :
Chamine, Shirzad, Positive Intelligence, Green Leaf, 2012
