Team Problem Solving: The Six Thinking Hats

In the age of information we can never spend enough time absorbing all the information that is thrust at us during each waking hour. The key to handling this barrage of information is the ability to think clearly.

No matter how good we think we are at thinking we can always improve and we must. In this world of global competition, the most important strategic advantage of any company is its ability to learn. The better the employees can think, the more quickly the organization can learn.

One of the main difficulties in thinking is trying to think about too much at once. The other main difficulty is confusion that is often caused by difficulty number one.

The key to this dilemma is a predictable process for thinking clearly. This process has been developed by Edward De Bono. He calls it his Six Thinking Hats Process. The main purpose of this process is to help a group to focus attention in one direction at a time. The outcomes of this focus is:
• Agreement on action
• Acknowledgement of all opinions
• Evaluation of all points of view
• Everyone feel acknowledged and appreciated for their views
• All options are identified (that the group is capable of generating)
• Optimal creativity
• Shorter meeting times
• Better decisions
• Increased fun