THINK Acronym for Kinder and More Effective Communications (Infographic)

This THINK acronym and infographic helps us communicate more kindly with others. Originally the THINK acronym was created to help reduce online bullying (to be used before posting something on Social Media), but it's actually useful for all our communications...

Where could you communicate more kindly with the THINK Acronym?

THINK_Kindness_in_Communication_Infographic_For_WebTo deepen your learning, ponder the questions below:

  • How could the THINK Acronym help your clients? How could you use this THINK acronym in workshops or groups?
  • Where could THINK help you in your relationships (work, home, socially)?
  • Where could you post this THINK infographic to reduce online (or other) bullying? Who else could find this acronym helpful?

 

Finally, if you liked this THINK Acronym Infographic on Kindness and Communication, you may also like:

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Contributing Author:

Emma-Louise Elsey has been coaching since 2003 and is the Founder of The Coaching Tools Company and Fierce Kindness.com. She's passionate about coaching and personal development. Originally a project and relationship manager for Fortune 500 companies she combined her love of coaching, creativity and systems to create over 100 brandable coaching tools, forms and exercises including 30+ completely free coaching tools. She now serves coaches and the coaching world through her exclusive newsletter for coaches, Coaches Helping Coaches Facebook Group and many other great tools for coaches, plus resources and ideas for your coaching toolbox. The Coaching Tools Company is an official ICF Business Solutions Partner.

Learn more about Emma-Louise & see all their articles here >>

36 Comments

    • Emma-Louise

      I did some research and couldn't find the original source. It seems to have originated as an anti-bullying acronym for social media posting. But sadly, no luck as to finding the origin! 🙂 Warmly, Emma-Louise

      Reply
      • Karina Leonard

        I believe it was made popular by Alan Redpath during his evangelist work in the '50s and early '60s. Still applicable today and a useful way to frame the messages we tell ourselves and others.

      • Emma-Louise

        Thank-you Karina! I often wonder (and am asked) where the THINK acronym came from. I will look into Alan Redpath 🙂 Warmly, Emma-Louise

    • Rochelle Blaszczyk

      I knew the THINK acronym well before there was such a thing as "online" anything. Don't know who created it, but it didn't have anything to do with online bullying. However, it is a great acronym to live by and remind us that our words have consequences.

      Reply
      • Maria

        Same! My Dad, who is now 75 used to say this to us kids a lot (I’m 42). Way before social media ever existed. In fact before internet and DVD’s!

      • Michela Phillips

        It's timeless! Your dad was onto something!
        - Michela

    • Claire

      i believe it is based upon a Buddhist saying: Before you speak, let your words pass through 3 gates: Is it true? Is it necessary? Is it kind?

      Reply
    • Fern

      Do all these need to be true? Sometimes something needs to be said that isn’t kind, but it is true, helpful, important....if we apply this to everything we communicate, everyday, why would we even speak our opinion on something?

      Reply
      • Emma-Louise

        Hi Fern,
        Great comment! And I agree (personally). I think we can ALWAYS be kind - but that doesn't mean we aren't firm or even fiercely kind. In fact, I am in the process of developing a new practice/website and much more - based on exactly this, Fierce Kindness.
        Kindness that is strong, protects boundaries and speaks the truth - is still kindness!
        Warmly, Emma-Louise

      • Jamie

        I am looking to it as applicable only if we are talking about another person, it's how to avoid being critical/rude to others or gossiping about others.

      • Linda Vaudeville

        I always told my kids that "Everything can be said but the manner in which you say is important. It's nice to be important but more important to be nice." So they were raised that they can speak their mind but also say it in the kindness way possible. 😀

  1. Pam

    Many times there are infographs...where can I get a copy of them as a poster like the "think' one?

    Reply
    • Emma-Louise

      Dear Pam, great question. You can always "right-click" on the image, save or copy the image and then print it if you'd like a copy to refer to! Warmly, Emma-Louise

      Reply
  2. Peggy Baldwin

    I'm trying to find the source also. I've heard it for many years, way before social media.

    Reply
    • Emma-Louise

      Dear Peggy, well, if you ever do find the source, I'd love to hear about it. And if I find the source, I'll share it here too. Warmly, Emma-Louise

      Reply
  3. Pamela

    In 1932 A 4 Way Test was created by Rotarian Herbert J Taylor
    1. Is it the Truth?
    2. Is it Fair to all concerned?
    3. Will it build Goodwill and Better Friendship?
    4. Will it be Benefical to all?

    Reply
    • Emma-Louise

      Thank-you Pamela - that's lovely! I have heard it before, but didn't know where it was from 🙂 Warmly, Emma-Louise

      Reply
  4. Rocio

    Hello 🙂 I would like to share this graphic for a blog post I am doing. I would like to keep it attached to your website so coaches can find it. Let me know if this is okay with you, please 🙂

    Reply
  5. Claudia

    I found you in a Google search as I couldn't remember the "I" in THINK! I was given this back in the 1980s in management training programs, long before online bullying needed the refresher.

    Reply
    • Emma-Louise

      Hi Claudia, thank-you for your comment! That's great to hear - I've had trouble finding the origin of this acronym! It's been around for quite a while then! Warmly, Emma-Louise

      Reply
  6. Lynda Boxwell

    From Claire ..............

    June 13, 2018
    i believe it is based upon a Buddhist saying:
    Before you speak, let your words pass through 3 gates:
    Is it true?
    Is it necessary?
    Is it kind?

    Reply
  7. Cristi A Cave

    I found a little hand-made book of my mother's, when she was a little girl, that had this saying in it. And she quoted it to me once as well. This little book would have been made in about 1946. The difference was that "Inspiring" was definitely not the word for "I". That "Inspiring" part strikes me as very wrong. We should never speak unless we think our words are inspiring? If so, only narcissists would be talking. I believe the original might well have been "Important."

    Reply
    • mturcott

      How interesting! Yes, maybe Inspiring isn't always possible but in the image it also says "Does it IMPROVE on the silence".

      Reply
    • Paul

      Here it becomes interesting. (No pun.) Although acronyms may be useful, the difference between Important and Necessary is often overlooked in this scenario. Also, a thought is easily lost in translation to the spoken word, and words that may trigger the listener don't really help (to convey the message, any message). With this in mind, Kind should alwas come first, imo. And then there is Inspiring, often misused for Motivating, and vv. Inspiring, Important, Necessary, Helpful and Interesting may well be within the Buddhist's Necessary. I wonder who translated the Buddhist saying into English? Also, in Al-Anon and Co-dependents Anonymous (CoDA) I came across different versions of the THINK tool.

      Reply
  8. Noelle

    It’s from the 12 step program, Al-anon. Z12 step programs are largely based on Buddhist principals.

    Reply
  9. Ramos Hector

    I could not remember Helpful or Inspiring and it kept my up at night until I googled it.
    The most important (I think)is the other three; True, Necessary, Kind which came naturally to me.

    Reply
    • Michela Phillips

      I'm glad you resonate with the acronym, Ramos. Thanks for sharing!

      Kindly,
      Michela

      Reply
  10. Aspie The One and Only

    The source of this acronym is universal, Buddha, Sufism, the bible etc. This THINK acronym is an evolution of those principles.

    I also like these: One needs to be silent in order to listen. And both silent and listen use the same letters. And: everything you say needs to be true, but not everything that is true needs to be said.

    Reply
  11. Amy

    I don't remember the first time I heard this but, as someone else commented, it IS tubeless! I am a Christian and it is a great "nutshell" for many scriptures that focus on our speech/talk. Specifically, I'm studying in James right now.

    Reply
  12. Ellen

    I personally learned THINK through AL-Anon. 🙂 I was out on the interwebs looking for a corporate way to integrate it at work as I am a people leader and voila. Thank you!

    Reply

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