Red Hat Thinkers Bring Passion to Business
Everyone has feelings about everything. Some people may control them differently or semi-successfully convince themselves they are level-headed, rational people. But let’s be honest with ourselves and own our humanity. All humans have feelings and those feelings influence our interpretation of logic. Edward DeBono suggests emotional reactions and intuitive insights are as functional and necessary in our human existence as our finely evolved logical frameworks.
In researching this series, I came across an article written by Flavio Rump for a popular online periodical.
In his summary of the Red Thinking Hat, he states:
When we conduct a business discussion, we’re not supposed to let emotions slip in. They end up doing so anyway, but we disguise them as logic.
Around the Meeting Table
Red Hat Thinkers will be passionate emotional and display raw energy that isn’t always comfortable for others.
Although disconcerting at times for the logical thinker, especially black hat thinking – where the answers to problems are black and white, Red Hat Thinkers go with their “gut.” These emotional contributors see things quickly based on past experiences, the “energy of the moment,” instincts, and intuition.
Intuition is not necessarily a logical progression. Instead, impressions influence actions as these sensitive humans comfortably trust a sense of direction rather than a spreadsheet of facts.
Can Red Hat Thinkers Get it Wrong?
Of course! Mental biases can be inaccurately interpreted as “the right way to go.” Moved by fear, grief, anger, joy, excitement, reflection, desire – a whole host of human experiences, the Red Hat Thinkers can let emotions run away with their direction.
But then, consider this: How many staff or board meetings have you attended where committed people delineated facts for all to see (and hear), providing historical evidence to support the factual guidance, and well-intentioned people made decisions that were detrimental to the organization?
Full Circle
Here we are again: Full circle around the table of logic, severity, generosity, creativity, longevity, and emotion and intuition.
There is NO perfect thinking style – except to say there are many. But, together, as with all human endeavors, we bring a wealth of universal knowledge and the use of knowledge: wisdom.
Without one another, we will always be looking through the clouded glass, never quite seeing things as they are, but as we are.
