In his book, "A Whole New Mind", Daniel H. Pink prepares us for a new kind of society. This new social environment will change the way we function. A new way of thinking which will improve the future and help people be more productive in their professional work environment as well as in their personal lives.

He tells us that the world market is moving out of linear thinking and into more creative thinking. During the past century, the world belonged to the 'knowledge worker' – the number experts, analysts and theoretical experts. The future belongs to an artistic, design focused approach – people who can share ideas and knowledge with others.

The art of storytelling is recognised as a powerful business tool now, building relationships and inspiring people. In business, we can no longer create reasonably priced, functional products – they must now be unique and emotionally compelling. Even the most humble household items must have good design and 'connect' with our lifestyle.

So, we need to think about what we want from our thinking – the way we train our brain can produce results. The brain is made up of a left and right focus. The left part of the brain is used more for calculation and logic, whilst the right side is used for creative, big picture thinking. Pink's book tells us that in the past, the left side of the brain was looked at as more important, as the side that made us 'human'. He tells us that recently the right side of the brain has been found to be equally as important, and will become even more important in the future.

For the last ten years, we have all been so busy creating spreadsheets or preparing emails that we have forgotten how to 'relate to others'. We have lost the art of communication, it has been sacrificed for speed and efficiency. Detail and speed still matter, but we must create the balance.

We must learn how to tell stories, see the bigger picture and understand our clients and work colleagues. I've got some ideas on how we do this and I'll share my thinking with you next time. It will make a difference to the way you work.