When Edward DeBono conceived his “Six Thinking Hats,” he envisioned a framework that functions well for individuals, for teams, for groups, for communities, and for organizations. However, people, even today, have little experience with thinking. They have even less training. They can memorize. They can understand what they are told. They can disassemble what others have created. They can apply the thinking of others. They can evaluate the work of others. What they cannot do, with any kind of frequency, is think into the future. Therefore, you must prepare them.

STARTING POINT — You, yourself, first! Ask yourself what you want to achieve or accomplish. Give yourself a future window of at least three years to achieve. Work on this vision, until you feel comfortable that the vision is clear to you. Then, work on it some more to make it simple for others to share your vision. This step involves one part of “book-ends” or Blue Hat thinking — where do I want to get? This step also involves “new-ideas” or Green Hat thinking. Be as wild and crazy as you want in creating your vision.

When you believe you understand what is involved, try to get others to play the “future” game with you. Family, especially children, are good candidates. You can begin with a possible excursion. Ask them to envision doing something they have never done. Encourage them to be wild and crazy. Encourage them to be very specific so that others share the vision. Their vision must be clear and simple.

Children can be your best teachers because they lack the grown-up reality that tells them they can’t! Their enthusiasm and openness to play spreads to others playing the game. Watch to see how children approach the game. Learn from them. Incorporate their game-playing skills into your own envisioning —into your thinking.

At some point, try getting people who report to you or who work with you to play the wild and crazy game of envisioning the future. See what obstacles they manufacture. See where they have lost their sense of play. If they are stiff and fearful, you must inject silliness into the equation. Even though risks to relationships are involved, the sillier the better!

THE MIDDLE STAGE — When you believe your people, including your family, grasp envisioning the future, you can move on to other thinking hats. De Bono identified pairs of hats that work together as partners, not as adversaries. “Informational” (White Hat) thinking and “emotional” (Red Hat) thinking form one partnership. “Cautionary” (Black Hat) thinking and “getting-it-done” (Yellow Hat) thinking form a second partnership. Each partnership creates paths that move thinking from one perspective to another. Nothing magical determines the sequence of the thinking or the hats you choose. Only time will teach you what works for the situations in which you need to think.

Each of these hats reveals steps in the process from your current situation to your future reality. You are free to change hats frequently. Equally, you are free to use the hats in whatever sequence you want. Just recognize and acknowledge what kind of thinking you are doing at any time. Monitor your own process. Identify your comfort and discomfort zones. Strengthen your comfort zones regularly. Master your discomfort zones. Document your own learning so you can understand the struggles of others. Your compassion empowers them.

Do not hurry this middle stage. Details that emerge prevent you from having to “fix-it” later. Be patient. Be thorough. Ask all of the hard questions. Let the map-making take its own course.

IN THE END — With the vision clear and expressed simply and with the details of the processes of getting from where you are to where you want to be solidly in place, you are now at the execute-Execute-EXECUTE stage. Then, for the final hat, return to “book-ends” (Blue Hat) thinking. Identify what you have achieved. How accurate was your vision? What detours did you take? What adjustments did you need to make as you progressed? Document everything you can, especially your learning. Ask your games players to document as well. Celebrate, fully, your achievement. Finally, begin to think about “what next.”

---

Virginia L. McBride, The Haven Maven Founder, EPROW Images Creator, “IT’S ALL ABOUT THE THINKING” Virginia builds personalized “thinking environments” to strengthen innovative thought. Working with EPROW Images, clients rehearse preparing their important people to think. This rehearsal reduces their fear of thinking. To qualify for a free 30-minute consultation, submit a “pitch” through EPROW’s PAPPY program => http://www.eprowimages.com