‘ebne’
March 26, 2009 by Holst Group
Edward de Bono’s Message
As ambassador for thinking for the European Union I shall be trying to show that our thinking is excellent but not enough. This is the new word ‘ebne’. Our thinking is based on recognition, judgement and the truth.
The religious influence of the middle-ages in schools, universities etc. gave the impression that ‘truth’ was enough. It is not. We also need the design thinking that produces ‘value’. I would welcome suggestions on how to show people that our traditional thinking is not as complete as we believe it to be.
Since I read the Six Hats book, and later followed the training program of the Holst Group, I am applying that thinking every day.
Not only is it key to creativity, in particular to avoid black hatting too soon, but even more so, in daily conversation to avoid the argumentative trap.
It is the simplest and most powerful tool I know in active listening skills, e.g. reacting positively to another person by acknowledging what is good about his/her proposal, opinion, rather than ‘disagreeing’ at front and builiding a confrontational climate. We can always ask a question about the risk we see in that proposal if we see a risk, i.e. inviting the person to wear the black hat, but only after having explicitely reacted with the yellow hat.
It would be more constructive if the political representatives avoid a similar approach rather than contradicting, with the objective to win the point rather than caring for the common interest. Unfortunately, the motivation of too many of them is to defend personal or nationalistic interests or opinions and not the general interest of humanity; else many problems would have been solved and with less wars (economical or real wars).
My greatest appeciation to Mr. de Bono. Hoowever…
… I must point out that his fixed judgement about the anscient Greek thinking is not the part I would underline most. Similarly, his suggestion that the Chinese did not try to adopt the concept of hypothesis is a more a sign cultural misunderstanding. The whole world does not think in the anglo-saxon way. The Six Hats can be promoted much more easily if we respect local culture (Asian culture don’t think so much in argumentative terms any way). Let’s sell parallel thinking more broadly (not just in Venezuela, where the critic to traditional thinking is of course welcome). The EU forum is a good one to begin with.
Roger Remy
International Training & Consulting
Rue du Temple 11
1096 Cully – Switzerland
Email : roger.remy@hispeed.ch
EBNE
OK, excellent thinking but not enough?… thinking based on recognition, judgement and truth?
Such thinking will always be flawed because human judgement is, by nature, factorised.
We will always struggle with question ‘what is truth’?
Until we all understand that we should, first, negotiate our failings and then pursue what is best achieved by application of better thinking. From then on, the societal / educational / ethical balance will be achievable.
To best illustrate that traditional thinking should not be believed to be complete, the focus should be either upon or consciously away from the rules of law we have created.
The key is that, though better creative / productive thinking can be streamed to give great results on a project by project basis, human failings represent the greatest of obstacles to progress. I have many ideas how to better negotiate these problems but the focus of the moment must be on what is actually going on, say in UK.
I observe that the majority of leadership training, which is being rolled out in UK is not reaping the required results. The RULES get in the way. Yet we must, must, must avoid anarchy. Freed up thinking can spell danger. This danger must be the focus of the moment.
Unfortunately I am witness to how bad things can be when creative thinking is used as a sort of ‘cleverer-than-thou’ tool for control. Seeking my individual recognition, judgement and the truth as I perceive it, I will keep ebne in mind as a mantra of our time.
Continually learning from friends around the world, who have allowed me to develop my understanding of why and how our thinking must change, I am a worshipper at the altar of perspective shift..where insight is to be found.
I will support any ambassador for thinking, especially the famed Edward De Bono. I should edit what I have written because, in summary of how best illustrate the potential for the complete set of thinking tools, I think that we must apply our thinking to, as simply / briefly / efficiently and productively as possible, best communicate what needs to be communicated – to suit the short attention span of the new and coming pressurised and debt-ridden generation.
Simply put – I have failed in my communication as above. I have demonstrated how not to message. I suggest that two shortish paragraphs can be better consumed and I should have trimmed back this comment. Any more than that and the vital content is too far diluted. EBNE must encompass best possible communication.
In addition to Design and Creative thinking,one could include Computational thinking and Hybrid thinking(combination of Bio cmputing and microchips networking with human brain).
Also,the second Law of Mothion also seems to hold good for human emotions! we tend to believe in what we know as truth till someting different is produced.
Further,new insight on pre thinking proces are worth consideration
[...] and criticism that dominate our thinking. These types of thinking are referred to by Dr de Bono as EBNE (excellent but not [...]