Thinking Playbooks & Model Map

See how multiple mental models and interactive tools combine into practical thinking chains across different stages.

Problem-Solving Stages Overview

Representative Thinking Playbooks

  • Major Career / Life Decision Chain

    For big career or life choices such as changing jobs, moving cities or starting a business.

    careerlife-decision

  • New Product / Project Evaluation Chain

    To evaluate whether a new product or project is worth pursuing.

    productprojectevaluation

  • Team Alignment Chain

    For helping a team reach structured alignment on an important decision.

    teamalignment

  • Root Cause & System Improvement Chain

    For recurring problems where you need to find root causes and design systemic fixes.

    root-causeprocess

Steps in this playbook

  1. 1

    Diagnose / Map

    Map your current situation with a personal SWOT

    List your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats to see the bigger picture.

    SWOT AnalysisSWOT Board
  2. 2

    Root Cause

    Use 5 Why and the Iceberg Model to find root causes

    Ask "Why?" repeatedly about your dissatisfaction to separate surface symptoms from deeper causes.

    5 Why Root Cause ToolIceberg ModelIceberg Board
  3. 3

    Reframe / Ideate

    Reframe with First Principles and Socratic Questioning

    Return to what you fundamentally care about, and use first principles and Socratic questions to redefine the problem.

    First PrinciplesFirst Principles ToolSocratic QuestioningSocratic Question Board
  4. 4

    Evaluate / Forecast

    Use Second-Order Thinking to forecast consequences

    For each option, ask "And then what?" to anticipate first- and second-order effects.

    Second-Order ThinkingSecond-Order Thinking ToolSix Thinking HatsSix Thinking Hats Board
  5. 5

    Plan / Execute / Reflect

    Turn the decision into mid-term goals and an action list

    Derive 1–3 key goals for the next 6–12 months and prioritize tasks with the Eisenhower matrix.

    Eisenhower BoardEisenhower Matrix
Thinking Playbooks & Model Map | Zen of Thinking