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Spatial thinking includes processes that support exploration and understanding. Spatial thinking allows you to visualise and understand the location and dimension of objects.
An expert spatial thinker visualises relations and imagines transformations from one scale to another.
What is spatial thinking?
In a tangible setting, a spatial thinker mentally rotates an object to look at its different sides and can then create a new viewing angle or perspective.
The same applies to intangible settings where the spatial thinker tends to view matters from a different perspective and manages to find out-of-the-box options and solutions.
The key components of spatial thinking include:
- Visualisation: The ability to create mental images of objects, scenes, or concepts and manipulate them mentally.
- Spatial Reasoning: The capacity to understand spatial relationships, proportions, and configurations.
- Spatial Orientation: The awareness of one’s position in space and the ability to navigate or manipulate objects within that space.
- Transformation: The capability to mentally rotate or transform objects to view them from different angles or perspectives.
Spatial thinking in the workplace
Research consistently shows a strong correlation between spatial thinking skills and success in various aspects of work, including task accomplishment, academic performance, and career persistence.
That’s why it’s crucial for a Strategic Leader to acquire spatial thinking skills.
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In a simple manner, spatial thinking will allow leaders to effectively externalize daily operations by creating representations such as a map, where relations and interdependence among various aspects become more clearer for decision making.
Individuals with strong spatial thinking skills often excel in tasks that involve problem-solving, critical thinking, and creative visualisation.
The good thing is that spatial thinking skills are malleable— meaning it can be improved with training.
Numerous educational and training interventions have recently emerged to improve spatial thinking. The coming section discusses some of them.
How to enhance spatial thinking skills?
Spatial thinking can be taught, triggered, and boosted. Once acquired, spatial thinking will develop into spatial intelligence over time.
Such skills are imperative for success in any career and within social interaction as well.
Here are some simple exercises to help build up those skills among your employees:
- Surprisingly, by creating a 3D model you can trigger information retention. Visualising new information in a real, 3D location improves memory.
For example, if you understand the concept of a 2D flat image vs. a 3D space like your office, you can acquire the intentional skill to absorb, with all your senses, i.e. where is the place training is being conducted, and thus you are more likely to recall its content later on.
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This is also why you tend to recall face-to-face work meetings more than a conference call. You simply have a 3D reference and memory.
- Stimulation and visual imagery to represent an object that is no longer physically present also improve critical thinking and problem-solving.
- Spatial IQ Training – A puzzle is a game that uses the reverse approach to the game “Memory”. What shape/ decision/idea fits the 3D space out of all the possibilities? This is a great critical thinking activity as well. If you work in the construction field this is a relevant and effective technique to enhance the spatial thinking skills of your team.
- Spatial reasoning games where you look at an object from all sides, including top and bottom, literally teach your employees how to “think outside the box” and leverage visual reasoning abilities, which in turn enhances task prioritisation and ordering skills.
- In review meetings and discussions always encourage descriptive and elaborative solutions and propositions. Also, encourage the use of gestures and demonstrations when presenting new or innovative ideas.
Spatial Thinking and Spatial Business
Spatial business is the application of geographic information systems (GIS) and location analytics to gather business intelligence that can be used for effective decision-making.
The integration of spatial business includes gathering location data and organizing layers of information into visualizations like maps and 3D scenes.
This data can then deliver powerful insights into markets, customers, services, logistics, supply chains, and asset and risk management.
Spatial thinking works to enhance and grow an understanding of location value, spatial decision-making, and locational strategies in business.
Giving your employees and business an edge in a highly competitive market.
Hence leaders should start working on developing networks of collaborative partnerships and projects with companies, communities, and academic organizations to promote cooperation in furthering scientific understanding of place and location for organization and business success.
Conclusion:
In an increasingly complex and dynamic business environment, leaders who possess strong spatial thinking capabilities are better equipped to anticipate challenges, identify opportunities, and devise effective strategies. Embracing and nurturing spatial thinking among employees can lead to a more agile, adaptive, and forward-thinking organisational culture.
In conclusion, recognising the importance of spatial thinking in the workplace and embracing strategies to enhance these skills will not only benefit individual employees but also contribute to the overall success and competitiveness of businesses in the future.
