8 Types of Intelligence Every Leader Should Know About
When Harvard psychologist Howard Gardner spent time working with brain-damaged patients in the morning and doing studies with kids in the afternoon, he noticed that intelligence manifests in different ways for different people.
“Seeing dozens of brain-damaged patients, I realized that the notion of intellect being one thing didn’t make any sense. The first thing that strikes you about brain damage is that it is quite selective. Some patients had lost their language abilities but they were very musical or vice versa,” he told The Harvard Gazette. “I also worked with kids, and some of them were good in writing, others were good in drawing, and some others in dancing or painting.”
Those experiences eventually led him to write “Frames of Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences,” which explores eight intelligence types.
Why every leader should know about intelligence types
As a leader, knowing about the different types of intelligence can be game-changing. “Being aware of multiple intelligences not only helps you be a better leader through your own understanding of your strengths and weaknesses in each area, but it also helps you assess and evaluate each member of your staff,” says Shirani M. Pathak, a retired psychotherapist and neuroscience-informed DEI consultant.
For example, you can use the theory of multiple intelligences to assess the strengths of individual team members and build on those strengths. This leads to higher team performance but also higher employee satisfaction and engagement, says Pathak.
Additionally, understanding your own unique intellect can help you target roles that you know will be a great fit for you. “For example, if logical-mathematical intelligence is your greatest strength, you might not thrive in a role that interacts with people on an interpersonal level regularly, unless you also rate high on interpersonal intelligence,” according to Pathak. “When you keep your strengths in mind, it can help you find the role you most thrive in, resulting in a happier you and a more enjoyable work experience.”
The 8 types of intelligence
Ready to dive into the eight types of intelligence Gardner identified? Keep in mind that most of us are strong in more than one area and that strength in one intelligence type doesn’t translate into weakness in another. Use the information below to gain a better understanding of yourself and your team.
1. Interpersonal
Interpersonal intelligence consists of being good at understanding and relating to others. From demonstrating high emotional intelligence to being good at solving conflicts, people with strong interpersonal intelligence are natural when it comes to building and sustaining healthy relationships.
2. Intrapersonal
Intrapersonal intelligence is all about how you relate to yourself. It’s the cognitive ability to be self-aware, reflect and introspect. As a leader, intrapersonal intelligence is one of the best assets you can have, as self-awareness can propel you to become a better version of yourself while you inspire your reports to do the same.
3. Logical-Mathematical
Logical-mathematical intelligence is self-explanatory. Analytical problem-solvers and people who are good with numbers possess it. In the workplace, this translates into fast problem-solving and a knack for grasping complex computations.
4. Naturalistic
There is a type of intelligence associated with nature. It’s called naturalistic intelligence, and it involves understanding the nuances of the ecosystem and cultivating an appreciation for nature. This attunement with the natural world can be an asset when so many people are plugged into the digital one.
5. Spatial
People with spatial intelligence have excellent visual judgment. From design and photography to aviation and engineering, many fields require spatial intelligence. Those with this type of intelligence tend to be able to think abstractly and have a large capacity for spatial reasoning and conceptualization.
6. Bodily-Kinesthetic
This type of intelligence is all about physical movement – think of pro athletes or the people you know who are blessed with a natural sense of coordination. If you have a high amount of bodily-kinesthetic intelligence, you likely learn and remember things by doing them instead of reading about them or seeing or hearing them.
7. Linguistic
If you have linguistic intelligence, you have a gift with words. That gift can show up in your ability to write well and enjoy reading. It can also express itself through excellent public speaking skills and the ability to influence others and be persuasive.
8. Musical
Musical intelligence, as you guessed it, pertains to music. While it does involve an appreciation for music, people with high musical intelligence often think in sounds and patterns. They have a strong sense of rhythm and can easily wrap their head around musical structure and notes.
