Life management basics

PARALLEL THINKING 

THE SIX HATS

l In traditional argument each side prepares a case and then seeks to defend that case and to attack the other case. Actual exploration of the subject is

limited.

2 Parallel thinking replaces the battle of argument with a joint exploration of the subject as all parties think in parallel" at any moment.

3 The direction of thinking is indicated by six coloured hats, each of which indicates a mode of thinking. At any moment everyone is wearing' the same colour of hat. That is what is meant by "parallel thinking.

4 The white hat indicates a focus on information What do we have? What do we need? How are we going to get the information we need?

5 The red hat gives full permission for the expression. of feelings, emotions and intuition without any need to give the reasons behind the feelings.

6 The black hat is for "caution" and the focus is on faults, weaknesses, what might go wrong and why something does not fit.

7 With the yellow hat the focus is on values, benefits and how something can be done.

8 The green hat sets aside time, space and expectation for creative effort. Under the green hat everyone is expected to make such an effort.

9 The blue hat is to do with the organisation of thinking. This means setting up the focus and also putting together the outcome.

10 The hats can be used as single hats to request a specific type of thinking. This allows a rapid change

in thinking.

11 The hats can also be used as a pre-set sequence to explore a subject. The sequence will vary with the type of thinking needed.

12 The hats make sure that everyone is using his or her thinking fully to explore the subject. If you want to show off you now do this by out-performing others

on each hat.

BENEFITS of parallel thinking

The hats provide an alternative to

argument. The hats allow joint explo

ration of a subject. The hats require

each individual fully to explore a

subject rather than just to make and

defend a case. The hats provide a

quick method of switching thinking.

The hats provide a means to request

a particular type of thinking. The

hals replace the ego and aggression

of argument with the challenge

thoroughly to explore a subject.

The hats get the best out of people

Meeting times can be reduced to one

fifth or even less, using the hats. The

hats are easy to learn and to use. The

hats are in use with four-year-olds

and with senior executives. It is no

longer necessary to use argument

simply because there is no other

method of discussion.

Hr. deepak raj mirdha
yog teacher , Acupressure therapist and blogger
www.deepakrajsimple.blogspot.com
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