Instructor Certification Overview—de Bono Thinking Systems Methods

These are the official methods created by Dr. Edward de Bono

Train-the-Trainer workshops are currently available for:

**Focus on Facilitation requires candidates be current certified instructors in both Six Thinking Hats® and Lateral Thinking™.

Global Consistency

 As a certified instructor in our global network you are required to protect and maintain the integrity of de Bono's intellectual property  by using our approved de Bono Thinking Systems training materials when you deliver a training course. It is important that we are consistent in approach around the world. Many global organizations choose these tools because of the consistency they provide from culture to culture, country to country.

Pricing Option 1

• Certification Fee: $5,000 due upon registration. You are required to purchase 24 participant workbooks after completing your certification to be ready to lead your first workshop.  Please call 818-507-6055 for further details. You are required to purchase 24 sets of workshop materials which will be delivered upon completion of your certification training.

Pricing Option 2

• Half Price Certification Fee: $2,500 due upon registration when you choose to purchase 100 Participant Manuals to start your training program. Please call 818-507-6055 for further details.

Pricing Option 3

• Free Certification Fee: Save $5,000 when you choose to purchase 200 Participant Manuals to start your training program. Please call 818-507-6055 for further details.

Our certification fees have not increased since we first offered certification training in 1992. Dr. de Bono insists we keep our training affordable for corporations, governments, non-profits and companies of all sizes. We work with small groups for best results. The key to successful use is to have a business plan for implementation to realize substantial results.

The value is significant—access to the most widely used creativity and innovation training tools in the world; highly skilled Master Trainers who are successful business people and are very willing to share what works and what doesn't in order to help new instructors accelerate their learning curve. Our clients are proactive people. They recognize the role great thinking plays to drive excellent results. Most often they protect their investment by certifying a number of employees to make a fast and big impact on the business.

Key Points:

• Certification typically takes 4 days.
• The sessions are designed for experienced instructors. Training techniques are not covered.
• Corporate in-house certifications are recommended for groups of 4 or more. You will receive a 15% discount. You may invite your key thought leaders to day-1 to experience the method and gain early buy-in and support.
• You must apply for certification and include three complete references.
• To maintain your certified instructor status, re-certification occurs every two years.
• You will be required to sign a certified instructor contract that details the agreement to protect the integrity of the tools and Dr. de Bono's intellectual property.

Consider certification if

Countries with Certified Instructors

Companies with Certified Instructors

Questions people frequently ask me about certification

Consider certification if your organization has a strategic plan to:

• Fund continuous learning events that help employees: manage change more effectively, learn to minimize risk, improve their ability to sell ideas to management, boost innovation, improve creative problem solving skills, take a more pro-active approach to tough challenges.
• Accelerate the pace of innovation - ideas converted to practical, high-impact uses (products, services, processes, systems)
• Help employees learn "how-to" tap into their own creative capacity to boost the bottom-line.
• Renovate brands, recapture market share, maintain leadership.
• Provide employees with practical and workable tools to help the company grow profitably.
• Leverage existing assets in new ways that add value to the bottom-line.

Consider certification if your consulting/training firm:

• Has an existing client base.
• Has been turning away business in the field of corporate innovation.
• Is looking for a very robust process facilitation tool kit.

Consider certification if  you are planning on starting your own training/consulting firm and you possess:

• Contacts that you can convert to clients.
• A strong facilitation skill set.
• A strong training skill set.
• A love of the creative process.
• Lots of relevant business experience.
• Persistence and perseverance.
• Financial stability.

Countries with Certified Instructors

These thinking methodologies are relevant internationally. They have a proven track record around the world. There are certified instructors in over 40 countries. Culture, language and skin color are not barriers.  

Companies with Certified Instructors

Companies with in-house instructors cut across industries. Industry sector is not a barrier: Aerospace, high-tech, banking and finance, food and beverage, military, retail, airline, publishing, consumer goods, entertainment, manufacturing, health care, insurance, pharmaceutical, consulting, etc.

A sampling of companies that have invested in certified instructors:

Questions people frequently ask me about certification:

Q - Who publishes the training materials?

de Bono Thinking Systems, Inc. publishes all of de Bono's training materials worldwide. They are located in Des Moines, Iowa.

Q - How do trainers in different countries get their training materials?

de Bono Thinking Systems, Inc. have set up an international distributor network. Trainers order their materials from the appropriate distributor or consulting firm such as The Opportunity Thinker/de Bono for Business—one of the most experienced and successful members in North America.

Q - Are you employed by Edward de Bono?

No. I lead my own flourishing companies, The Opportunity Thinker, Institute for Effective Innovation, de Bono for Business and Kerfuffle Publishing. I utilize his tools among others. I am a member of the de Bono Thinking Systems Global Network, a de Bono organization.

Q - How does de Bono make money from your business if you are not employed by him?

Every time a certified instructor leads a training session we are under contract to purchase training materials from a distributor who is a member of the de Bono Thinking Systems Global Network, who is responsible for compensating de Bono based on their agreements.

Q - Are there territories set up that limit where you can work as a certified instructor?

No. I can work anywhere in the world. Clients in Europe, Canada, United States and Asia have had The Opportunity Thinker travel to work with them.

Q - Why did you decide to certify in de Bono's thinking techniques instead of creating your own process or choosing someone else's?

• I liked that his techniques are in place around the world - stability and consistency. This demonstrated to me that they are solid, well thought out, and proven. Like reading, writing and arithmetic - basics - his tools are simply thinking basics. A good starting point.

• I had been recruited to a National Organization Effectiveness Department to develop business skills training for buyers, merchandisers, advertisers, quality controllers, and marketers. I didn't have time to start from scratch to design interventions - a huge costly learning curve. I could also see the trend with clients - deliver results now; training staff in the habit of designing interventions from scratch when expertise clearly existed in the market place were going to be out of work. This has indeed come to pass in many organizations. I was also pleased at what I could accomplish in a short period of time for a small sum of money - less than $50.0 to get started. Not a lot of money in a major organization.

• I also chose to certify in Kepner Tregoe's: Problem Solving & Decision Making methodology, Project Management Process, Managing Involvement, and  Engineering the Performance System, along with choosing them to lead a major consulting project. All of their thinking methodologies compliment de Bono's body of work.

Q - What is the relationship between: de Bono Thinking Systems, Innova Training, Inc., and The Opportunity Thinker?

• de Bono Thinking Systems, Inc. is the publisher of de Bono's official training materials. They screen certification applications to ensure high standards of integrity, and maintain the records. They set up distributors internationally to ensure appropriate global coverage. They work directly with Edward to ensure training materials are up to his standards to protect the integrity of his large body of work. They scan the market place for consultants and corporations who are breaking copyright and trademark laws by using de Bono's material without authorization and proper training. Edward put in place a system of certification and independent certified instructors to make his tools widely available around the world. 

• Innova Training, Inc. was spun off from de Bono Thinking Systems in 1999. They are the training materials distributor for the United States.

• The Opportunity Thinker is an independent member of the de Bono Thinking Systems Global Network who purchases materials from Innova Training, the designated distributor.

Q - If I certify through your company who do I place materials order with?

You place your orders directly with my company, The Opportunity Thinker.

Q - What can I do to improve my chances of initiating a successful launch at my company?

There are several different activities you can do:

• Line up clients before you attend certification.

• Establish a delivery schedule and plan to deliver your first 3 programs within 8 weeks of certifying. It is really important to get on your feet as quickly as possible and to become comfortable with the materials.

• Tap into the expertise of a seasoned consultant and set up a pilot project to host a number of sessions before you attend certification. Hone in on the specific needs of your employees. When you attend certification you will have a very clear focus on what you need to achieve in order to meet the needs of your clients.

• Market your services as a facilitator to help resolve tough business problems.

• Look for proactive clients.

• Position the tool kits with your corporate strategy and objectives - demonstrate how they can help deliver necessary results.

• Plan to capture examples of successful use and incorporate them into your marketing, newsletters, website, etc.

• Establish course titles that will attract your customers.

• Incorporate job application challenges in your training and plan to follow-up with the team to ensure follow through.

Q - Which thinking methodology should I certify in first?

There is no proper order. Each methodology is freestanding, yet each tool kit complements the other two. Determine what your corporate priorities are and then certify in the course that makes sense.

A thriving company since 1994, The Opportunity Thinker, is a member of the de Bono Thinking Systems Global network, a de Bono organization.

Contact Lynda for a free consultation to thoroughly discuss your options to ensure you make a good choice to meet your business objectives: info@LyndaCurtin.com or call: 818-507-6055