Frequent Program Q&A's

Q: What kinds of challenges are the tools appropriate for?

A: Here is a sample of challenges the tools are used on:

• Strategic thinking—they open up thinking to greater possibilities.
• R&D looking for new ways, new patents.
• Thorough decision making—supported and actionable.
• Risk assessment—designing solutions to overcome obstacles.
• Brainstorming—strengthen the process to end up with ideas that can be implemented.
• Quality improvement—frameworks for uncovering new ways.
• Leading change and innovation—tools to plan for and implement changes more smoothly; tools to generate fresh new ideas.

Q: Which do you recommend - open enrollment classes or in-tact team training focused on really tough business challenges that need to be solved?

A: It depends on how your company operates and how training is viewed by your employees. I find open enrollment is helpful when:

1. You have established relationships with internal clients that recognize you can help them resolve tough business challenges by equipping them with the right tools. Your clients attend training with a view to determine how helpful these thinking tools will be in if their entire team is trained to use them. You want me to spend time talking with your clients while I am on site conducting training to help them sort out their needs. We operate as business partners.
2. Your employees are really enthused about new learning opportunities - being exposed to cutting edge, world class ideas and tools.

In-tact team training is really powerful when:

1. We have timely job challenges to work on.
2. Enough time is scheduled to incorporate a blend of training and application - this takes more time than just delivering training.
3. It is incorporated into off-site meetings and planning events.
4. Task forces/project teams have been organized to design something new for the company.
5. A follow-up plan to reinforcing the training is incorporated at the outset of the plan - review, re-teach to need, etc.
6. You want to test the practicality of new tools with a specific group in order to decide what to do with the tools in your organization.

Q: How can we avoid falling into the "Flavor of the year" program trap?

A: Treat thinking a core skill. Understand that thinking is your invisible competitive advantage. It is the cheapest way to get added value from the work your company is doing. It is very inexpensive to risk thinking time vs. other assets.  It is the thinking of your employees that drives the quality of your organization's success. Work towards building a thinking organization. Who could argue with that?

Q: Our brainstorming sessions are not very productive. Which thinking tool do you recommend to help us improve brainstorming productivity?

A: Six Thinking Hats because it provides a very robust framework for -  generating ideas; quickly evaluating ideas and selecting the ones with the biggest impact on the business; identifying risk and minimizing it; and project planning. It is much more complete as a tool for creativity and innovation than traditional brainstorming - an advertising agency tool.

Q: Our executives keep saying we need new thinking. The old ways aren't working as effectively anymore. Which thinking tool would help us?

A: Lateral Thinking because the tools are designed to specifically interrupt routine thinking patterns and open up new idea tracks for possibilities. It is a pure creative thinking tool kit - going way beyond the obvious. It is essential to learn how to break out of routine thought patterns when you are working on developing powerful new solutions.

Q: Our employees are very technical. They like things to be logical and rational. We have tried creative thinking training classes before. They were described as being fluff by this audience - toys, drawing and music. Why would your tools be received differently with this audience?

A: They are designed based on how the brain operates - a self organizing, active storage  information system. The piece that is missing in many creative thinking methods is the logic of creative thinking that addresses the way the brain operates as a self organizing, active storage information system. The logic is covered very quickly and this is a big "AHA" for the technical groups that I have worked with. Once they understand the logic, the tools make absolute sense. This is de Bono's biggest contribution to the field of thinking.

Q: We have a really young employee group with a short attention span. Will you be able to keep them interested?

A: Yes. My sessions are typically described as fast paced, energetic, high content, results oriented, practical and fun.

Q: Our employees are really smart. They have lots of patents under their belts. Some have more than one PH.D. Are you sure the content will be stimulating for them?

A: Yes. It is important to note they are knowledgeable in their specific area of expertise. This should not be viewed as a barrier to their being open to new cutting edge tools and world class content that is not their specific area of expertise. I frequently work with groups like the one you describe. My background could not be further from their background. I am simply bringing them new ways to think about their areas of expertise that can help them develop even more new patents, if that is what they want to do.

Q: How do these thinking tools fit in with all of the Quality training that has taken place the last few years?

A: Some companies are incorporating Six Hats and Lateral Thinking into their Six Sigma Black Belt training. They have recognized these employees need strong facilitation skills and these methods are really strong facilitation tools. Our Focus on Facilitation course is a perfect compliment to the quality professionals facilitator tool kit.

Q: How much flexibility do we have with the title and description?

A: As much you want. It is important to use titles that fit the needs of your employees and to describe the content so that it is linked with your corporate goals.

Q: Why did you choose de Bono's tools?

A: Because they work for me. They make a very robust process facilitation tool kit. Most other creative thinking tools are derived from de Bono's large body of work. They are fun to use, yet deliver powerful results. Training is available around the world. They have integrity. Materials have been translated into many languages, and are also available in braille. They are not dependent on the life span of the individual that created them. They will be in use long after Dr. de Bono's death. I believe their use will become so routine they will permeate our school systems to the point that people won't remember who the creator was. Just like people learn to read, write and do math, having no idea who the creators were. Thinking will be taught as a basic skill in the same way.

Q: How long have you been certified in de Bono's tools?

A: Certified by Edward—Six Thinking Hats - 1992. Lateral Thinking - 1994. DATT - Direct Attention Thinking Tools - 1995. I am also a Six Thinking Hats, Lateral Thinking and Focus on Facilitation Master Trainer and Accredited de Bono Thinking Systems Facilitator. Designed his Focus on Facilitation workshop in 2004.

Please contact Lynda Curtin with any additional questions you have: 818-507-6055 or info@LyndaCurtin.com

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