Melvyn’s notes

Mental models are frameworks that shape our understanding of how the world operates.

This understanding is derived from three key elements—Education, Experience, and Exposure:

• Education: This includes the codified knowledge we acquire from books and formal learning.
• Experience: Applying what we've learned provides practical insights and builds our expertise.
• Exposure: Broad experiences enrich our perspectives and deepen our understanding.

Peter Senge (1990)¹ emphasized the profound impact understanding mental models has on managers:

“The impact on managers' understanding of mental models is profound—most report that for the first time in their life, they recognize that all we ever have are assumptions, not ‘truths.’ We always perceive the world through our mental models, which are always incomplete and, particularly in Western culture, often nonsystemic."

Steps to Enhance Your Mental Models

1. Acknowledge Limitations: Recognize that your mental models are never complete or fully accurate.
2. Reflect Continuously: Regularly ask yourself, "How does my current experience support, enhance, correct, or contradict my existing mental models?"

By understanding and adjusting our mental models, we can better navigate the complexities of the world and make more informed decisions.