Sunday, October 21, 2007

Expand your thinking skills

The ability to perceive or think differently is more important than the knowledge gained.” - David Bohm

Thinking is just like any other skills. It can also be learned, practiced, and improved. It is essential to improving writing, reading, listening, and speaking. You can indeed develop your thinking skills.

One of the well-known thinking techniques is the Six Thinking Hats from Edward De Bono. Each hat defines a certain type of thinking. You put on or take off one of these hats to indicate the type of thinking you are using. This allows you to switch from one type of thinking to another.

When done in your group, everybody should wear the same hat at the same time.

Each mode has been identified by a different coloured hat, such that:-
  • The WHITE hat denotes a mode of thinking during which an objective look at data and information is required.
  • The RED hat denotes the mode of thinking associated with feelings, hunches, and intuition.
  • The BLACK hat denotes the mode of thinking associated with caution, judgement, and looking logically at the negative aspects of a problem - often described as the ‘devil’s advocate’ mode of thinking.
  • The YELLOW hat denotes the mode of thinking associated with examining the feasibility and benefits of a given situation, and looking logically at the positive aspects.
  • The GREEN hat denotes the mode of thinking associated with the generation of new ideas, creative and ‘lateral’ thinking.
  • The BLUE hat denotes the mode of thinking associated with the overall control and organisation of the thinking process.

“People mistakenly assume that their thinking is done by their head; it is actually done by the heart which first dictates the conclusion, then commands the head to provide the reasoning that will defend it.” - Anthony de Mello


“It is neither good nor bad, but thinking makes it so.” - William Shakespeare

Try it! Put on the Six Thinking Hats and improve thinking, questioning, and communicating in all areas of your life.

The above mind map was created using iMindmap that I had purchased recently.

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6 comments:

surjit singh said...

It is nice to see you back Sam. Hope you had a great time with your family.
A wonderful motivational post. Some people hold the view that thinking from the head means acting with reason and thinking from the heart means acting out of sentiments.
Thanks for sharing.Six Thinkig Hats technique is quite informative.
God bless.

WaterLearner said...

Hi Sam,

I had gone for the Edward De Mono's course on the Six Thinking Hats as well. Quite many years back though. When I just graduated.

Indeed, the potentials of our minds can only be discovered if we make very determined and constant efforts about it.

Welcome back dude. You extended your holiday huh? I checked out your good blog quite a few times in your absence. Guess you must really have quite some catching up to do.

Blessings & Have a Good Week Ahead!

Sam Chan said...

Hi Surjit,

Thanks for your good wishes.
Indeed, I had a great time with my family. I am glad you find the Six Thinking Hats technique informative.

The bible also tells us that thinking comes from the heart. In Matthew 15:18-19 "But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. (19) For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies."

Six Thinking Hats technique actually suggest to us to focus our heart to come out with different thoughts. What do you think?

God bless

Sam Chan said...

Hi Karen,

You are right! I had extended my holiday... due to the many events that had happened recently. I really had lots of catching up to do.

It is great to know that you had gone for the Six Thinking Hats course. Have you been using the technique? Frankly speaking, I have to really work on my weakness. I still have been doing lots of acquiring but haven't been putting much into practices. :-(

Blessings to you, Karen

Unknown said...

Hope you had a great holiday Sam.

This another great entries of yours...

I wonder where I can get that Six thinking hats? Lol

Sam Chan said...

Hi Haze,

Thanks. I had an enjoyable holiday.
The Six Thinking Hats are always available to anyone free of charge. One just need to put in effort to learn to think :-)

Best Wishes