Life is full of those moments where we have to make a choice. Option A or Option B. Beach or mountains? Work or study? And often, we are faced with more complex, higher-stakes decisions. Understanding how to make good decisions is easy when you apply some proven, simple decision making tools.
Here's one worth getting up to speed with:
Here's one worth getting up to speed with:
Six Thinking Hats
You may have heard the name Edward de Bono? He was nominated for the Nobel Prize for Economics in 2005, and is regarded by many as the leading authority in the field of creative thinking, innovation and the direct teaching of thinking as a skill. He created a very useful, simple and effective model for decision making called the ‘Six Thinking Hats’.
The premise of this method is that the human brain thinks in a number of distinct ways which we can choose to deliberately challenged to develop more well rounded and considered decisions. De Bono identifies six distinct directions in which the brain can be challenged, hence the six thinking hats. He describes this tool as “a simple, effective parallel thinking process that helps people be more productive, focused, and mindfully involved”.
We all have a ‘hat’ or two we prefer using and will naturally use without even realising it. To help make the best possible decision, taking a few minutes to view the options with each ‘hat’ on, you will end up with a well balanced approach to your decision making and better the chances of a great outcome. This framework works well for all decisions, personal or professional. Here’s my interpretation of Edward De Bono’s original work
BLUE HAT
What is the process for making this decision?
How will I decide what to do and by when?
You might decide to talk it through with your partner, best friend and family, and decide for yourself what’s best. Or you may decide that you will only move forward if you and your partner agree, or if you have your parent’s support. Knowing early on, ‘how’ you will decide and by when, makes it a lot clearer.
RED HAT
How do I feel about it?
Emotion, intuition, gut feel, first response … what does that say? Yes, no, unsure? Feeling like it’s ‘meant to be’ or a sense of anxiety or fear?
Tune in and note what it’s telling you.
YELLOW HAT
How great could this be? If all goes well, what’s my ideal outcome here?
Yellow hat is all about seeing the sunny side of life – how great it could be!
GREEN HAT
Options! What are all the possible options available here?
There are so many possibilities, we can get stuck on one or two options for us to take but focus on really thinking big, what other options are there? How else might this pan out? What other pathways can be developed?
WHITE HAT
What information do I need?
Use facts, not assumptions … you might think it will cost you $800 to study but with a little research, you find its $800 for the course, plus $350 books, plus you will need to travel to classes so another $50 per week. All of which is manageable if you know what you’re dealing with.
BLACK HAT
What are the risks? What could go wrong?
Any course of action has upside and downside, and you’re much better armed to reduce these risks if you see them ahead of time. Putting on the black hat means you’re thinking about what could go wrong, what are the risks and if you do go ahead, how you can mitigate or manage these risks so they don’t hold you back.
The premise of this method is that the human brain thinks in a number of distinct ways which we can choose to deliberately challenged to develop more well rounded and considered decisions. De Bono identifies six distinct directions in which the brain can be challenged, hence the six thinking hats. He describes this tool as “a simple, effective parallel thinking process that helps people be more productive, focused, and mindfully involved”.
We all have a ‘hat’ or two we prefer using and will naturally use without even realising it. To help make the best possible decision, taking a few minutes to view the options with each ‘hat’ on, you will end up with a well balanced approach to your decision making and better the chances of a great outcome. This framework works well for all decisions, personal or professional. Here’s my interpretation of Edward De Bono’s original work
BLUE HAT
What is the process for making this decision?
How will I decide what to do and by when?
You might decide to talk it through with your partner, best friend and family, and decide for yourself what’s best. Or you may decide that you will only move forward if you and your partner agree, or if you have your parent’s support. Knowing early on, ‘how’ you will decide and by when, makes it a lot clearer.
RED HAT
How do I feel about it?
Emotion, intuition, gut feel, first response … what does that say? Yes, no, unsure? Feeling like it’s ‘meant to be’ or a sense of anxiety or fear?
Tune in and note what it’s telling you.
YELLOW HAT
How great could this be? If all goes well, what’s my ideal outcome here?
Yellow hat is all about seeing the sunny side of life – how great it could be!
GREEN HAT
Options! What are all the possible options available here?
There are so many possibilities, we can get stuck on one or two options for us to take but focus on really thinking big, what other options are there? How else might this pan out? What other pathways can be developed?
WHITE HAT
What information do I need?
Use facts, not assumptions … you might think it will cost you $800 to study but with a little research, you find its $800 for the course, plus $350 books, plus you will need to travel to classes so another $50 per week. All of which is manageable if you know what you’re dealing with.
BLACK HAT
What are the risks? What could go wrong?
Any course of action has upside and downside, and you’re much better armed to reduce these risks if you see them ahead of time. Putting on the black hat means you’re thinking about what could go wrong, what are the risks and if you do go ahead, how you can mitigate or manage these risks so they don’t hold you back.
The Most Crucial StepOnce you’ve done the heavy lifting in terms of gathering information, considering the options from different perspectives and come to a landing on what the best course of action is, the next step is the most crucial.
Do something. Do something that supports that decision and that moves you toward that outcome. You will only be able to see the decision play out if you act. Do it now. One step. |
"All these faces and all these changes,
but where do I go now I need that ocean, that devotion, to help me figure out Where I wanna be, five years from now Where do I go, when there's no place like home? Where do I go, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know" Lyrics "Five Years from Now" by Kiwi Singer/Songwriter Jamie McDell |
REMEMBER.
It will be difficult and uncomfortable at first, just like any steps toward building competency is.
This is a skill that takes time to build competency in – practice makes perfect.
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