Thinking styles and environmental leadership: Governance strategies in the Philippines’ coastal areas

Abstract

This paper examines the application of the Herrmann Brain Dominance Model in local governance in the province of Negros Oriental, Philippines, particularly in the management of coastal areas. Leadership has shifted to include diverse thinking styles, for it has been found that a person’s unique thinking style determines how things get done. The Herrmann Model has demonstrated this and given results on how a person leads regarding their predominant mode of thinking. In coastal management, where local governments face complex environmental issues, understanding thinking styles can enhance governance strategies. The study uses a mix of qualitative and quantitative design to assess the thinking styles and ecological problems in 07 local government units in Negros Oriental. Data were gathered through surveys, interviews, and documentary research. Results indicate that most of the local officers are analytical thinkers (42.85%) and organizational thinkers (35.71%) but lack team-oriented thinkers (14.28%) and creativity-oriented thinkers (7.14%), which does not let them create innovative solutions for sustainable coastal management. The study stresses integrating creative problem-solving and analytical skills to address environmental issues like habitat destruction, siltation, and overfishing. The findings suggest that while the local leaders are good at coping with the immediate environmental issues, they can improve their thinking flexibility for sustainability through leadership training, cross-sector collaboration, scenario planning, and developing sustainability policies to deal with the complex environmental challenges.