Whole Brain Practitioner Spotlight: Patience Dube
At CreateConsulting, we are privileged to partner with practitioners who don’t just understand the theory of Whole Brain® Thinking, but live it every day. This month, we sat down with Patience Dube, a People Expert at iTOO Special Risks and a certified 1112 thinker.
In this Q&A, Patience reflects on her journey from a pivotal career conversation to using cognitive insights to navigate everything from corporate change management to parenting teenagers.
The Spark: A Career Conversation
What inspired your journey into Whole Brain® Thinking?
During a career conversation with a previous leader, this came up as an opportunity to learn and grow while simultaneously meeting a business need. It was perfectly aligned with my interests and the potential he saw in me. I am truly grateful for his leadership.
At the time, the organisation was focused on building effective teams and helping leaders manage relationships—skills that were core to our purpose. The Synapse foundational programme™ was instrumental for me as a Human Capital Business Partner. It helped me think about the leader I wished to become, and one of my electives was emotional regulation.
As a qualified coach, this has been a huge benefit for me personally and for the business. I am so thankful to have a toolkit I can now tailor to address the diverse needs of any team.
The Impact: Shifting the Energy in the Room
How has Whole Brain® Thinking influenced your work and team dynamics?
It has been a tremendous honour to support teams with the "gift of insight". I recall two specific team effectiveness engagements where the atmosphere was initially tense.
By exploring thinking preferences, those teams were able to lean into their discomfort and gain a deeper understanding of one another. We watched the tension shift into "aha" moments and smiles. This understanding has led to more balanced decision-making, stronger collaboration, and higher productivity because colleagues finally understood why they communicated and solved problems differently.
On the business front, it’s been a significant help in influencing and leading change. While we use a variety of change management approaches, Whole Brain® Thinking works perfectly with them all. Knowing that I’ve contributed to this journey, for both teams and leaders, is incredibly rewarding.
The Personal Side: Parenting with Empathy
Has this methodology impacted your life outside of the office?
On the home front, it has supported both my parenting and how I navigate conflict with my husband. The Clean Talk™ tool has done wonders for our family.
By recognising our different thinking preferences, I’ve learned to respond to my two teenagers with much more affirmation and less impatience. It has allowed me to parent with deeper empathy and appreciation for their uniqueness.
The Golden Thread: Quality Thinking
What is one practical tip or insight you come back to time and again?
I often return to the 10 Components of a Thinking Environment by Nancy Kline. There are two specific quotes that guide me:
“The quality of our doing depends on the quality of the thinking we do first.”
“The quality of our thinking depends on the quality of the attention we receive while we are thinking.”
It’s a simple but powerful reminder that how we create space for thinking, directly shapes the outcomes we get.
Are you ready to unlock the "Thinking Edge" in your organisation?
Explore our coaching and leadership development services to see how we integrate the HBDI® and Whole Brain® Thinking to help your teams and leaders thrive.