Contextual Intelligence: How Thinking in 3D Can Help Resolve Complexity, Uncertainty and Ambiguity

by Matthew R. Kutz

This book offers a structured framework for critical thinking and decision making that shows how to use hindsight, insight, and foresight to navigate through complexity. Every organization and every person faces rapid change and complexity. Contextual intelligence – understanding fully the context in which one is operating – teaches the reader how to navigate that complexity and respond appropriately in the face of change (expected and unexpected). The Three-Dimensional (3D) Thinking™ framework helps structure critical thinking by showing how to appropriately bring past experience, present intuition, and future ambiguity– in other hindsight, insight, and foresight – to bear on any given problem. Kutz offers a way to rationally organize difficult concepts such as complexity, tacit knowledge, and synchronicity into usable and understandable language, but more importantly teaches the reader how to apply these concepts in a very practical and meaningful way with measurable and tangible outcomes. The book also describes in detail 12 behaviors associated with contextual intelligence. Four behaviors are associated with hindsight, four behaviors are associated with insight, and four behaviors are associated with foresight. The book takes the reader through the 12 behaviors and how they relate to 3D Thinking. Cases and anecdotes are used generously to provide examples. Chapters are followed by critical thinking questions and questions related to the cases in the chapters. Furthermore, questions and practical tools are introduced that help the reader assess and determine their level of contextual intelligence.

Genres: Leadership, Business

179 pages, Paperback

First published September 12, 2013

Reviews

[Emily Holladay · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read Contextual Intelligence for a professional development program I am involved in. I found glimpses of helpful information throughout the book (although, I think many leaders could put Goleman’s work on emotional intelligence to work in developing contextual intelligence without reading this book). I was distracted by the number of spelling and grammatical errors throughout the book, but I appreciated the use of day-to-day examples in constructing our own ideas of how contextual intelligence could be practiced.

[Jessica Greenway · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although a bit wordy in places, Matthew hit a home run with me. The key message I took from this book is to embrace the chaos. This came at the perfect time in my life. Really a worthy read for anyone in the business world, struggling with the times of rapid change in an instant.

[Phillip Nash · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting new perspective on leadership. A book packed with concepts and ideas that will require a second read to really absorb. Enjoyed meeting Matt Kutz and hearing him summarize his ideas but the book is so much more. A great read for anyone serious about honing their leadership.

[Kyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

New concepts on leadership extremely helpful definitely a must read for those involved with leaders