Black Hat Thinking Takes the Straightforward Black and White Approach
This Black Hat post is one of a five-series collection of articles. I hope to encourage you to identify your default way of thinking, (the hat best fits your head), and when needed, to consciously choose to wear a different hat. People who deliberately seek to understand other perspectives are a great asset to their organizations. We used only four of the six hats sourced from the definitive and highly recommended text on the subject: Six Thinking Hats by Edward De Bono. Here is a link to the book.
If you would like us to cover all 6 hats – do leave a comment below or shoot us an email at info@fioregroup.org
Black Hat Thinking Cap
Black hat thinkers can be easily misunderstood. You might recognize them as people who are critical of new ideas or enthusiasm. Admittedly, they are not as quick to adapt to new ideas without the proper research to support the decision or action.
Ideas should follow a logical progression in black hat thought. If you use terms like “I feel” or “I sense” or “Seems like,” when you pitch your idea, traditionally the black hat thinker will stop you before you gain much traction. Your emotions are irrelevant and could lead to trouble.
Facts motivate their analysis and decision-making. But, facts alone are usually not enough. They will need confirmation that the “facts” come from sources they personally find reliable. (Don’t tell them I said this, but they had to put on another hat to choose their reliable source!)
Thank goodness for fact-checkers in today’s world! Human evolution resulted in our ability to use logic. We need the black hats!
Their consistent emphasis on quality, accuracy, and safe practices keeps us focused and on a safe footing. Critical thinking will look for historical evidence of similar ideas and outcomes which can be useful to any team.
Some Pitfalls
If the Black Hat thinkers don’t understand the limitations of their thought processes they may hinder the team. Black hat thinkers are not seeking innovation, enthusiasm, or creativity. Intuitive problem-solving is often frowned upon.
Throughout this mini-series, I will challenge you to use each hat when you need it. If you are mostly a people-person who believes any good idea is worth a go – your team benefits if you slip on the black hat or actively listen to logical queries for the danger signs. Black hat thinkers use the judicial process as a search and rescue process to protect their teams from potential misfires.
It’s easy to feel hurt by people who see things as only good or bad. They are often unaware that they hurt you. What you may perceive as disrespect, may in fact be their best effort on behalf of the organization. They assume you know that and that you would do them the same favor!
