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.

Related posts:

• The Right Perspective
• Personal Perception
• Remember to put on your thinking cap
• Pay attention to your thinking
• Think and Grow Rich
• Thinking is hard work