Job Discussion Forums

[ChinaMovieMagic]

SUGGESTION:

Consider the use of de Bono's 6 Hats Technique in our English classes, Staff Meetings and...even...our Forum E-Meetings

Kevin Gaudette

www.iltcscu.org

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http://www.deakin.edu.au/~spalm/srp70733.html

It is common for meetings to get bogged down in arguments where people take positions and defend them to the death
The 6 hats is a cooperative tool rather than an adversarial tool
In a normal meeting, it is easy for someone not to look for positives if they do not support an idea - the 6 hats technique challenges participants to see all sides
Some people see the downside in everything
The 6 hats technique offers them ample opportunity for black hat thinking,
but challenges them to think in other ways as well
It is important the hats are not categories or labels for people
rather than limiting people, the aim of the 6 hats is to get the thinker to use all 6 hats
Some times it is possible to put together a sequence of hats that will assist in thinking productively about some matter

The actual order will vary with the situation,
but for a new matter, the sequence might be:

White - to get information;
Green - for ideas and proposals;
Yellow followed by Black on each alternative - to evaluate alternatives;
Red - to assess feelings at this point;
Blue - to decide what thinking to do next

For a well known proposal, the sequence of hats might run:

red;
yellow;
black;
green (to overcome negative points);
white; and then
blue

The white hat
White is neutral
While wearing the white hat we ignore arguments and proposals, we examine the facts, figures and information that we have, and identify what information we don�t have, and how we might get it

What information do we have here?
What information is missing?
What information would we like to have?
How are we going to get the information?

The red hat
Red is for feelings, hunches and intuition
It permits people to put forward their feelings without the need for apology, explanation or attempt to justify them Intuition may be a composite judgement based on years of experience, and
it can be valuable even if the reasons behind it cannot be spelled out consciously

Putting on my red hat, this is what I think about the project ...
My gut feeling is that it will not work
I don�t like the way this is being done
My intuition tells me that prices will fall soon

The black hat
The black hat is the logical negative
It is the hat of caution & critical judgement
It is the most used hat, and perhaps the most valuable hat, mistakes may be disastrous
At the same time, it is very easy to overuse the black hat, it is easy to kill creative ideas with early negativity

The regulations do not permit us to do that
We do not have the production capacity to meet that order
When we tried a higher price the sales fell off
He has no experience in export management

The yellow hat
The yellow hat is for optimism and the logical positive view of things
It looks for feasibility and how something can be done
It looks for benefits, but they must be logically based

That might work if we moved the production plant nearer to the customers
The benefit would come from repeat purchases
The high cost of energy would make everyone more energy efficient

The green hat
The green hat is for creative thinking, new ideas and additional alternatives
Putting on the green hat makes time and space for creative effort
This is were we engage in lateral thinking and other creative techniques

We need some new ideas here
Are there any additional alternatives?
Could we do this in a different way?
Could there be another explanation?

The blue hat
The blue hat is the thinking overview or process control hat
It is usually used by the chairperson of the meeting:
it sets the agenda for thinking;
it suggests the next step for thinking;
it asks for summaries, conclusions and decisions

We have spent far too much time looking for someone to blame
Could we have a summary of your views?
I think we should take a look at the priorities
I suggest we try some green hat thinking to get some new ideas

References
de Bono, E. (1992), Serious Creativity, HarperCollins, New York.
de Bono, E. (1986), Six Thinking Hats, Little, Brown, New York.
de Bono, E. (1995),Serious Creativity, Journal for Quality and Participation, 18, 5, 12-18, USA.

[Gordon]

What is the context in which you brought this up?

I have looked at de Bono's 6 hats quite closely. I redesigned his approach and set up a curriculum for a course at a school that I once worked at. The course was called Thinking Skills and was for advanced learners. It could be adapted to intermediate level as well, mind you. I had a lot of fun conjuring up activities and teaching it for 2 years.

Not sure if a staff meeting would work with the 6 hats approach, but certainly a course.

[Sinobear]

This is in the context of "New Age, Crystal-Sucking" philosophy. China Movie Magic would be much better off reading Everything I Ever needed To Learn I Learned in Kindegarden or Dilbert, rather than cutting and pasting every piece of liberal claptrap about teaching he/she/it can find.
In fact, ChinaMovieMagic, I wonder if you even teach at all? Are you in China? Does reality ever approach your doorstep?

Just wondering,

[ChinaMovieMagic]

QUOTE:This is in the context of "New Age, Crystal-Sucking" philosophy. China Movie Magic would be much better off reading Everything I Ever needed To Learn I Learned in Kindegarden or Dilbert, rather than cutting and pasting every piece of liberal claptrap about teaching he/she/it can find.
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Sounds like a RED HAT judgement...
Red is for feelings, hunches and intuition
It permits people to put forward their feelings without the need for apology, explanation or attempt to justify them
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Response: Mr. de Bono's approaches are generally well-known by those in the training professions, and have been used for decades by leading corporations/universities etc. Try a Web search.
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QUOTE:In fact, ChinaMovieMagic, I wonder if you even teach at all? Are you in China? Does reality ever approach your doorstep?
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Sounds like a Black Hat judgement...
The black hat is the logical negative
It is the hat of caution & critical judgement
It is the most used hat, and perhaps the most valuable hat, mistakes may be disastrous
At the same time, it is very easy to overuse the black hat, it is easy to kill creative ideas with early negativity
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Response: My China ESL/EFL/EIL experience:
*early 1970s--Cambridge, Ma. US-China Friendship Assoc., training Harvard scholars from China (Green Hat&Yellow Hat motivation)
*1981--Boston Chinatown
*1981-1984--1 year each in HK/Macau/Taiwan, at universities, corporations etc.
*1988-1990--Taiwan, at universities, middle school, corporations etc.
*1999--Present--I'll be here long-term, as it gives me an opportunity to wear ALL the hats.
(I've also taught EFL/ESL/EIL elsewhere...starting w/Peace Corps in W. Africa, as well as Mexico and USA...)
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QUOTE:Just wondering
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This sounds like the Green Hat.
The green hat is for creative thinking, new ideas and additional alternatives Putting on the green hat makes time and space for creative effort. This is were we engage in lateral thinking and other creative techniques
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RE: Personally speaking, I derive great PLEASURE for Green Hat and Yellow Hat activities, which is one reason among many why I choose to stay teaching in China (www.iltcscu.org).
Sinobear, I note that in your profile, under INTERESTS, you answer: "Masochism. Making the same mistakes again and again." Is this a sincere act of self-revelation? Or a form of cynical humor...? In any case, your Black response to my Posting regarding deBono's technique...suggests to me that you might--in the spirit of sincere self-revelation--consider expanding your profile-listed INTERESTS...
...from mere "Masochism" to the Full Frontal Polarity:
"Sado-Masochism."

[/quote]

[Sinobear]

Well, at least that had a little personal interjection.
Lessee, Sonny Bono's ski hat guide says...you're a hippie!


Cheers!

[ymmv]

[Atlas]

Always after me Lucky Charms!


(huh?)

Green hats all around, I say!

[ChinaMovieMagic]

Thanks for the lead about "Green Hats"...

[ChinaMovieMagic]

SinoBear