Whole Brain® Thinking

Why Workplace Assessments Matter

Workplace assessments help leaders and teams understand employees’ unique strengths, thinking preferences, and areas for growth. Used effectively, they support better communication, collaboration, and decision-making—contributing to a healthier, more productive work culture.
With so many tools available, choosing the one that truly fits your team’s needs can be a challenge. this page explains how HBDI® and Whole Brain® Thinking (WBT) stand out in Attune s Brain-based- Heart Led approach.

What is Whole Brain® Thinking (WBT)?

Whole Brain® Thinking is a framework that maps how individuals and teams prefer to think, using the Herrmann Brain Dominance Instrument (HBDI®). Unlike personality or behavior-based assessments, HBDI® focuses on cognitive preferences—how people approach problems, make decisions, communicate, and create.

These thinking preferences, often unconscious, shape the way we work and collaborate. WBT offers an accessible, research-based model to harness this diversity for better results.

Attune’s Approach: Thinking is Embodied

At Attune, we recognize that the brain doesn’t work in isolation. Thinking is part of a broader brain-body system. Cognitive functions such as decision-making, focus, and creativity can only thrive when the nervous system is in a regulated state. That’s why our WBT sessions always take into account not just how someone thinks, but how that thinking is influenced by their emotional and physiological state.

We work from the principle that optimal performance arises when thinking, feeling, and action are aligned.

Where WBT Makes a Difference

Whole Brain® Thinking is widely used to support:

  • Team effectiveness
  • Diversity and inclusion
  • Innovation, creativity, and change management
  • Decision-making processes
  • Leadership and professional development

What HBDI® Is—and What It’s Not

Many assessments measure personality traits, behavioral styles, or emotional intelligence. HBDI® is different.

It does not measure:

  • Personality traits (like Birkman or the Big Five)
  • Personality styles (like MBTI or Insights Discovery)
  • Contextual behavior (like DISC)
  • IQ, EQ, or EI 2.0
  • Self vs. others’ perceptions (like Hogan or Highlander)
  • Career fit or occupational type (like Strong, Holland, or MAPP)
  • Behavioral strengths (like CliftonStrengths)
  • Competencies or talents (like TMA Method)

Instead, HBDI® focuses on thinking preferences—providing a powerful foundation for insight, development, and collaboration.

Why Choose HBDI®?

The Whole Brain® Model offers a clear and practical visual framework, dividing thinking preferences across four colored quadrants: analytical, procedural, relational, and conceptual. While inspired by the metaphor of left/right brain and cortical/limbic processes, it’s grounded in a more nuanced understanding of the brain’s complexity and neuroplasticity.

Its strength lies in its accessibility and applicability—making it ideal for coaching, team sessions, and leadership development.

How We Work with You

Through a mix of online analysis, interactive dialogue, and team exploration, we help you understand your own profile and how to bridge differences with others. By becoming more aware of your thinking preferences and learning to flex across styles, you’ll strengthen: Team collaboration, Decision-making, Conflict resolution, Creativity and innovation, Client relationship and Personal and professional growth.

You will also gain access to the Whole Brain® Platform to further explore your profiles and compare them with the HBDI profile of your team members for deeper insight.

Certified Expertise

Sonja Vlaar has been Whole Brain® certified since 2006 and re-certified in 2021. She is qualified to apply the Whole Brain® Method and HBDI® tools in guiding individuals and teams—both online and in-person.

Ready to explore how WBT can benefit your team or organization? Contact Sonja for more information or book a session.