Are you Right-Brained or Left-Brained?

Find out which you are by clicking on the image of The Spinning Dancer below.

You will be taken to a website where you will see two identical copies of this spinning dancer animation. When you come back answer the questions below.

If you see her, in both animations, predominantly spinning clockwise, that is, to the right, you tend to be a right-brainer.

If you see her, predominantly, spinning counter-clockwise, or to the left, you tend to be left-brained.

Your tendency shows how you've trained your brain, or been influenced as you were growing up.

If you can see one dancer spinning clockwise and the other spinning counter-clockwise simultaneously, you are likely able to switch easily between both right or left-brain functions as needed.

With practice, you can figure out how to "make" this figure switch directions at will. That shows you are learning how to switch from using one brain hemisphere to the other.

But the way you naturally tend to operate in the world, will always tend to dominate. This preference will show more clearly when you are tired.

Left-brainers are logical and analytical. They thrive in structured environments. They smoothly articulate what they wish to communicate to others. They may even enjoy a 'good argument'. They perform well under stress, as in job interviews, laying out the answers to the questions, in a sequential and orderly way.

Left-brainers easily rise to the top of office management. They coolly and clearly look at the facts and make unemotional decisions. They are leaders who are not afraid to tell others what to do and how to do it. To them, there is only one way to do things and that's the right way - the way that makes the most practical sense. Trying out new ways of doing things can seem like a waste of time.

Key left-brain functions

• Uses logic in decision-making
• Detail oriented
• Facts rule
• Prefers words and language
• Present and past oriented
• Math and science
• Comprehension
• Knows
• Acknowledges
• Order/pattern perception
• Remembers an object's name
• Reality based
• Forms strategies
• Practical
• Prefers safe course of action
• Rule conscious

"Why fix it, if it ain't broke," says the left-brained person, who sees no need for trying a new way of doing something, when the old way works just fine.

For right-brained people, following a regimented, rigidly prescribed office routine is deadly. It goes too much against their creative Free Spirit. They like to imagine new possibilities, and enjoy looking at the many different angles of a problem. Inevitably, they want to try new and different ways of doing things. And this can clash with the lefties sense of orderliness and practicality.

Right-brainers visualize the big picture, ignoring the details of how to get there. If they are being interviewed by left-brainers, the right-brainer may appear to speak in generalities. They can even seem to be off point and scattered at times. They like to respond emotionally during interviews, laughing or telling stories to illustrate a point. Left-brainers, who are looking for a direct, concise, structured and unemotional answer, are unimpressed.

Key right-brain functions

• Uses feeling in decision-making
• "Big picture" oriented
• Imagination rules
• Prefers symbols and images
• Present and future oriented
• Philosophy and religion
• Gets the "general meaning"
• Believes
• Appreciates
• Favors Spatial Perception
• Remembers an object's function
• Fantasy based
• Presents possibilities
• Impetuous action takers
• Risk taking

1. Pay more attention to how you say things vs. what you say. Right-brained people are more influenced by the tone, pitch, and rhythm in the sound of your voice when you are telling them something.
2. Try to feel how the other person is responding to you. Right brained people are more emotionally expressive and intuitive. The right brain tells them when something "feels" right.
3. Look more at the big picture, the possibilities, the broad vision with as much sensual information as possible. The right brain wants to see, feel and experience what is being said.
4. Ask more open-ended questions: "Why?" and "How?"
5. When you go on vacation, try going with the flow, and just let things happen, without planning it out beforehand.

1. Become more detailed, and present your points in a clear, concise, logical order when you are trying to convince others.
   
2. Challenge your mind with new ideas, such as learning a foreign language, doing crossword puzzles, or solving brainteasers.
   
3. Focus more on what you are saying rather than how you are saying it.
   
4. Try to see the linear sequence of events rather than going for the whole picture first.
   
5. When you are going on vacation, try planning it out in detail, so you know each day what you are going to do.
   

Doing these exercises will definitely help your communication skills when you need to get through to a person who functions using the opposite brain preference to you. You will know or have a feel for how they think.

Left-brainers love keeping records, doing calculations and working with the facts. They are in the minority in the expressive and performing arts, involved in discovering inventions, designing, or in creative marketing.

The arena of right-brained thinkers is any work that requires long range visionary or exploratory thinking, and motivating of others. Left-brained scientists and engineers also need these qualities to shine in their fields.

In this predominantly left-brained world, we need both of these types to thrive. Without right-brainers, we wouldn't have most of the exciting innovations in the world.

And without the left-brainers behind the scenes, cooly directing and managing, organizing and controlling all the administrative details, that drive right-brainers batty, things wouldn't run as smoothly. Keep this in mind the next time you are tempted to pass judgment on your opposite type.

• WORK STYLE PREFERENCES INVENTORY
  Do you take a Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising or Conventional approach to your work/life? Find out now.




• WORK VALUES INVENTORY
  18 Common Work Values guide how well we do in our jobs. Do you know what yours are? Being aware of the values, that are important to you, will make it easier to choose which job is right for you.




• PERSONALITY TEST
  An understanding of personality type can bring you closer to your Best Career Match. Which Personality Type are you? Find out by taking this Personality Test.




• CENTRAL MOTIVATIONS QUIZ
  Knowing What Motivates you on the job, is a critical part of Finding Your Best Career Match. By taking this Quick & Easy Quiz, you will discover what motivates you on the job.




• THE MULTIPLE INTELLIGENCES INVENTORY
  Do you know what your preferred intelligences are? There are 8 different types of Intelligences, which play a large part in how we think and respond, in solving problems in our work/life. This inventory will alert you to which ones you can capitalize on, while you are on the job.




• THE BURNOUT CHECKLIST
  Burnout can occur at any time. It's sneaky and can creep up on you, because it's not always easy to identify. Know the Signs of Burnout on the Job. Take this Burnout Checklist.




• BRAIN TEASER: ARE YOU LEFT OR RIGHT-BRAINED?
  Here is a fun brain-teaser that will reveal your brain preference. Which way do you see the dancer spinning? How do Right-Brainers and Left-Brainers compliment each other in the workplace?