Deconstructing with Della: Hang on to your hat
June 26, 2017 |
| Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's |
We were asked to facilitate a team building and presentation training session a few weeks back. When we met to plan out the session, the client suggested we use the Six Thinking Hats process created by Edward de Bono. I had not used that method of brainstorming since the 80s.
I had to download a book to remind me of the details and how to effectively use this tool. In a nutshell, the concept is to tackle questions or ideas with parallel thinking. The six hats represent different ways to approach the topic such as green for creativity and new ideas, black for weaknesses and critical thinking, and yellow for possibilities and opportunities. Unlike other methods of brainstorming, this one forces the group to think with the same lens at the same time.
I forgot how much fun and how effective six hats thinking can be. And, that got me thinking about the many fads that come and go in the boardroom. Sometimes we toss them out for the next new shiny object or we just get tired of doing things a certain way. Perhaps like revival plays we should consider revival communications tools. If something worked well but is a bit dated it might be worth sweeping off the dust and doing a refresh and update.
To deconstruct, just because something was done in another era, it does not make it less relevant or useful today. As much as I love new techniques and technologies, I am most interested in communications processes that work.
There are definitely some old practices that should stay buried in the office trash can. Please let's never go back to talking about shifting paradigms, tossing balloons across the table or doling out Play-Doh.
What brainstorming or communication processes would you like to see make a comeback?
What brainstorming or communication processes would you like to see make a comeback?
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