Naturalistic intelligence helps us to recognize or categorize things in nature – with an eye to solving things at work…. Naturalists come from many careers … you can spot them in molecular biology, traditional medicine, or health food experts who specialize in herbal remedies.
Believe it or not, that naturalist could be you, regardless of the work you do. When Howard Gardner added Naturalist intelligence to his list in 1996, he added another list to the original seven intelligences evident in your brain and mine.
It won’t help you if you fail to use or develop more naturalistic intelligence, though. Why so?
The brain shapes itself by the world around you and by your responses to that world.
Here are ten tactics to increase naturalistic intelligence for benefits at work…
1. Collect data to track and report progress at work
2. Discuss books about nature
3. Dry flowers for the workplace or as gifts for peers
4. Organize collections that would inform a project
5. Observe some aspect of nature that links to your work
6. Use binoculars or telescopes to describe what you do best
7. Identify characteristics of the natural world
8. Start a small garden at work
9. Hike in nature for an occasional problem solving venue
10. Store, read and relate articles from nature to explain your work
Any one or two of these would get you a new neuron pathways headed toward finer intelligence based on drawing from your own naturalistic smarts. Work alongside a naturalist … while you try one … and you could end up an IQ point or two smarter yourself. What do you think?
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