playbooks

home / skills / abdullahbeam / nexus-design-abdullah / mental-models

mental-models skill

/00-system/skills/tools/mental-models

This skill helps you apply structured mental models to decisions, problems, and planning, offering concise options and guided thinking.

npx playbooks add skill abdullahbeam/nexus-design-abdullah --skill mental-models

Review the files below or copy the command above to add this skill to your agents.

Files (1)
SKILL.md
5.1 KB
---
name: mental-models
description: Load when user says "mental model", "think through this", "structured thinking", "help me decide", "analyze this problem", "first principles", "pre-mortem", "stakeholder mapping", "what framework should I use", or any specific model name. Provides 59 thinking frameworks for decision-making, problem decomposition, and strategic analysis.
---

# Mental Models

Apply structured thinking frameworks to decisions, problems, and planning.

## When This Triggers

- "Help me think through X"
- "What mental model should I use?"
- "Apply first principles to this"
- "Do a pre-mortem on this plan"
- "I need to analyze this decision"
- Any specific model name (SWOT, 5 Whys, etc.)

---

## Workflow

### Step 1: Run Mental Models Scanner

Run the script to get all available models:

```bash
python 00-system/mental-models/scripts/select_mental_models.py --format brief
```

This returns JSON with all 59 models across 12 categories.

**Optional filters**:
```bash
# Filter by category
python 00-system/mental-models/scripts/select_mental_models.py --category cognitive --format brief

# List format (names only, grouped by category)
python 00-system/mental-models/scripts/select_mental_models.py --format list
```

---

### Step 2: Identify Context and Offer Options

Based on user's situation, offer 2-3 relevant models:

**For decisions**: Decision Matrix, Pre-Mortem, Cost-Benefit, Inversion
**For problems**: First Principles, Root Cause (5 Whys), Fishbone
**For planning**: Scenario Planning, Stakeholder Mapping, OKR
**For creativity**: Design Thinking, SCAMPER, Lateral Thinking
**For risk**: Pre-Mortem, Force Field, Red Team, Black Swan
**For communication**: Pyramid Principle, BLUF, Steel Manning
**For learning**: Feynman Technique, Deliberate Practice

Present options with brief descriptions (3-7 words each).

---

### Step 3: Load Specific Model File

After user selects, load the individual model file:

**File structure**: `00-system/mental-models/models/{category}/{model-slug}.md`

| Category | Path |
|----------|------|
| Cognitive | `models/cognitive/first-principles.md`, `inversion.md`, etc. |
| Collaborative | `models/collaborative/six-thinking-hats.md`, `mece.md`, etc. |
| Diagnostic | `models/diagnostic/pre-mortem.md`, `five-whys.md`, etc. |
| Strategic | `models/strategic/scenario-planning.md`, `ooda-loop.md`, etc. |
| Analytical | `models/analytical/decision-matrix.md`, `swot-analysis.md`, etc. |
| Creative | `models/creative/design-thinking.md`, `scamper.md`, etc. |
| Operational | `models/operational/kanban-thinking.md`, `okr-framework.md`, etc. |
| Validation | `models/validation/hypothesis-testing.md`, `red-team-analysis.md`, etc. |
| Time & Resource | `models/time-resource/eisenhower-matrix.md`, `opportunity-cost.md`, etc. |
| Communication | `models/communication/pyramid-principle.md`, `bluf.md`, etc. |
| Learning | `models/learning/feynman-technique.md`, `deliberate-practice.md`, etc. |
| Probability & Risk | `models/probability-risk/expected-value.md`, `black-swan-awareness.md`, etc. |

**Example**:
```
User picks: "First Principles + Pre-Mortem"

AI loads:
→ Read: 00-system/mental-models/models/cognitive/first-principles.md
→ Read: 00-system/mental-models/models/diagnostic/pre-mortem.md
```

---

### Step 4: Apply Model Questions

Use the question templates from the loaded model file to guide the user through structured thinking.

Each model file contains:
- **Purpose**: What the model does
- **When to Use**: Best situations for this model
- **Questions to Ask**: Ready-to-use prompts
- **Process**: Step-by-step application
- **Output**: What you get from using it

Keep it collaborative - this is a conversation, not an interrogation.

---

## Quick Reference

**12 Categories (59 Models)**:
1. **Cognitive** - First Principles, Systems Thinking, Lateral Thinking, Inversion, Second-Order Thinking, Analogous Reasoning
2. **Collaborative** - Six Hats, MECE, Stakeholder Mapping, Devil's Advocate
3. **Diagnostic** - 5 Whys, Fishbone, Pre-Mortem, Force Field, Fault Tree
4. **Strategic** - Scenario Planning, OODA, Jobs to Be Done, Blue Ocean, PESTLE, Porter's Five Forces
5. **Analytical** - Decision Matrix, SWOT, Cost-Benefit, Pareto, Assumption Testing, Sensitivity Analysis
6. **Creative** - Design Thinking, SCAMPER, Morphological, Random Entry, Constraint Removal
7. **Operational** - Kanban, Value Stream, OKR, Lean Canvas, Theory of Constraints
8. **Validation** - Hypothesis Testing, Prototyping, Red Team, A/B Testing
9. **Time & Resource** - Eisenhower Matrix, Time Boxing, Opportunity Cost, Sunk Cost, Resource Mapping
10. **Communication** - Pyramid Principle, BLUF, Situation-Complication-Resolution, Steel Manning
11. **Learning** - Feynman Technique, Spaced Repetition, Deliberate Practice, T-Shaped Skills
12. **Probability & Risk** - Expected Value, Margin of Safety, Black Swan, Bayesian Updating, Regret Minimization

---

## Notes

- Always offer choice, never prescribe
- Run script first to see all available models
- Load individual model files only after user selects
- Combine models when appropriate (e.g., First Principles + Pre-Mortem)
- Adapt formality to user's context

Overview

This skill provides 59 proven thinking frameworks to structure decisions, decompose problems, and plan strategically. It activates when you ask for help thinking through something, request a specific model, or use trigger phrases like “first principles” or “pre-mortem.” It offers relevant model suggestions, loads the chosen frameworks, and guides you through practical question templates and step-by-step processes.

How this skill works

When triggered, the skill runs a quick scan of all available models and suggests 2–3 that fit your context (decisions, problems, planning, creativity, risk, communication, or learning). After you choose one or combine a few, the skill loads the corresponding model content and walks you through the model’s purpose, when to use it, core questions to ask, the application steps, and expected outputs. The process is collaborative: it asks targeted questions, prompts for your inputs, and helps synthesize conclusions or actions.

When to use it

  • You need a structured way to decide between options
  • You want to root-cause a persistent problem
  • You’re planning and want scenario-based thinking
  • You want to stress-test a plan with a pre-mortem
  • You need creativity prompts or ideation frameworks
  • You want to map stakeholders or communicate clearly

Best practices

  • Start by describing context and constraints in one paragraph
  • Choose 1–2 complementary models rather than many at once
  • Use the model’s question template verbatim to prompt focused answers
  • Iterate: apply a model, capture outputs, then refine with another model
  • Adapt tone and formality to the meeting or audience

Example use cases

  • Compare vendor proposals using a Decision Matrix plus Cost-Benefit
  • Break down a product failure with 5 Whys then Fishbone
  • Design a launch plan using Scenario Planning and Stakeholder Mapping
  • Run a pre-mortem on a high-risk project with Red Team input
  • Generate new feature ideas with SCAMPER and Design Thinking

FAQ

Can I combine models?

Yes. Combining complementary models (e.g., First Principles + Pre-Mortem) gives deeper insight—start with decomposition, then test risks.

How many models should I use at once?

Keep it lean: 1–2 models for a single session. Use additional models iteratively as clarity improves.

What outputs will I get?

Each model yields concrete artifacts: prioritized lists, root-cause diagrams, risk registers, decision matrices, or scenario narratives depending on the model.