The business world has been abuzz with the concept of Design Thinking over the last few years – and with good reason. This non-linear, iterative process is a great way to avoid the trap of rushing in to solve a problem, without truly engaging with it first.
The first three stages of Design Thinking are applicable to any challenge, problem or situation:
- Empathise
- Define
- Ideate
The good news is that Dr Edward de Bono’s Six Thinking Hats® and Lateral Thinking provide tools to complete these stages in a time-efficient, creative way.
Stage 1 To empathise is to understand the client and the world in which they operate, as fully as possible. The White Hat and Red Hat can do this effectively and efficiently. The White Hat seeks information about the world as it is: facts, figures, past iterations, previously tried ideas. The Red Hat captures the subjective reality: what is the gut feeling about the issue?
Stage 2 Defining a challenge is key to any successful process and is frequently overlooked. De Bono’s Lateral Thinking ‘Focus’ tool encourages us to examine the problem: why is it an issue? What’s stopping us from doing something about it? The process that comes from these seemingly innocuous questions can have a radical impact on our approach to challenges.
Stage 3 Ideation – creative thinking – is perhaps the thing Dr de Bono is most celebrated for. His Green Hat and Lateral Thinking tools provide on-demand creativity for this crucial element of the Design Thinking process.
In short – it’s fair to say that Dr de Bono’s work has provided the tools for Design Thinking for over 40 years.
More about the workshops
Six Thinking Hats® helps to critically analyse any given situation, understand the real problem, investigate improvement and build a collaborative opportunity.
The structured use of the ‘Hats’ creates an unparalleled discipline to our thinking process. It allows participants access to differing and often opposing thinking styles, ensuring the group works collaboratively and openly – without judging if any suggestion or solution is ‘right or wrong’.
- Public workshops – online VILT (virtual instructor-led training) and face-to-face classroom. More…
- In-house workshops – for groups and teams delivered online VILT (virtual instructor-led training) and face-to-face classroom at a time and place to suit you. More…
Lateral Thinking will empower your people to challenge current thinking, solve problems and generate new, creative and different ideas. Find out more about:
- Public workshops – online VILT (virtual instructor-led training) and face-to-face classroom. More…
- In-house workshops – for groups and teams delivered online VILT (virtual instructor-led training) and face-to-face classroom at a time and place to suit you. More…
For the complete creativity workshop you can combine Lateral Thinking with Six Thinking Hats® which helps you to assess and select the right idea, whilst reducing conflict and increasing collaboration.
- Public workshops – online VILT (virtual instructor-led training) and face-to-face classroom. More…
- In-house workshops – for groups and teams delivered online VILT (virtual instructor-led training) and face-to-face classroom at a time and place to suit you. More…
About Stephanie Butland
Stephanie Butland specialises in creativity, thinking skills, team development and communication.
Having worked with Indigo since 2004, Stephanie is a Master Trainer in Dr de Bono’s Six Thinking Hats®, Lateral Thinking and Focus On Facilitation™ techniques. She also delivers workshops in Think on Your Feet®, Writing Dynamics™ and The Skilled Presenter™ and is a Belbin accredited and CIPD qualified trainer.
