This Yellow 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 that 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.
Reach for a Yellow Hat When You Need a Logical, Positive, Encouraging Mindset
Yellow Hat Thinkers have a logical mind and see the long-term progression from start to finish. Curiously they search for possibilities. Unlike their counterparts, the Black Hat Thinkers who decide quickly and easily based on a black and white mental grid, Yellow Hat thinkers deliberately look for possibilities in what may seem at first glance to be a non-starter.
You can easily recognize people on your team with a Yellow Hat thinking style. They are always asking,
“what if”? Unlike the Green Hat, Yellow Hat thinkers are curious but temper their curiosity to what seems logical at the time. They are generally supportive of new thoughts or ideas until it becomes clear there is no logical path to success.
Problem Solvers
While all thinking hats contribute to problem-solving, the Yellow Hat thinkers bridge optimism with a probing, research-based analysis. If you don’t have the Green Hat Thinker at the table – who will push you to the far ends of possibilities, the Yellow Hat thinkers offer a significant benefit employing a balanced overview. However, be prepared to wait, and maybe wait a little longer – they won’t be rushed.
Long-Range Thinking
Not every problem needs a one-step resolution. Yellow Hat Thinkers are ready to plot a course, set out on a quest, reach for a vision – step by step. You want these thinkers on your R&D teams. Let them tell you what might be possible and the yearly path to achieving that opportunity.
Change Your Hats Often
Remember, we are not stuck with one hat to wear every day of our lives – like the uniform I used to wear every day as a Police Officer. While some may excel in certain thinking styles, we can all develop the ability to use different ways of thinking and employ different perspectives. The more adaptable you become, the more value you will bring to any organization.
