“Lateral Thinking”, usually said to mean something vague like “thinking outside the box” or “being creative”. That’s not wrong, exactly. But it doesn’t tell you what to actually do differently. Lateral Thinking is a structured approach to generating alternatives and finding … Continue reading
Tag Archives: Dr Edward de Bono
Stop waiting for creative people, build the skill.
Most businesses can tell you exactly who on the team is “creative”. It’s usually the same two or three people with everyone else being quietly opted out. That’s a problem, because demand for creative thinking isn’t holding steady while businesses wait … Continue reading
Question. Challenge. Evaluate. Decide. AI can’t do that.
Ask a business leader whether AI matters right now and you’ll get an answer before you finish the question. Ask them whether their people are equipped to judge what AI actually produces, and the answer comes much more slowly. That … Continue reading
Creative thinking skills training: Why every business needs a creative thinking strategy – not just a skills wishlist
Creative thinking is becoming one of the most important workplace skills for businesses to develop, but many organisations still treat it as an innate ability rather than something employees can learn. The World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report identifies … Continue reading
Why your meetings keep going in circles (and how to fix it)
Too many meetings. Too much conflict. Nothing moves forward. If that sentence made you think of a specific meeting, you’re not alone. Ask most leaders what gets in the way of good decision-making and the answers come quickly: conversations that … Continue reading
When seniority derails a meeting – how to get thinking back on track
A senior colleague raises an objection. The room changes. The idea being explored suddenly feels too risky to discuss. The person who suggested it goes quiet. Others who were about to contribute decide it is safer not to. The meeting … Continue reading
How many bad decisions are hiding in your meetings?
Not every bad decision looks bad when it’s made. Some are nodded through because the meeting is running out of time. Some happen because the most confident person in the room sounds more certain than everyone else. Others are agreed … Continue reading
Why some people never seem to freeze under pressure
The three seconds that decide how you’re remembered Someone asks you a question in a meeting that you didn’t see coming. For a moment, nothing comes out. You fill the silence with “um…”, start talking before you’ve decided what you’re trying … Continue reading
Ineffective meetings are expensive, so is explaining decisions badly.
The problem: this is costing you real money, right now For a 100-employee organisation, unproductive meetings cost an estimated $2.9 million a year. At 5,000 employees, that climbs to roughly $145 million (Business Insider, via Flowtrace’s 2026 meeting data). Zoom … Continue reading
Use Six Thinking Hats® to transform meetings from a drag to a driving force
The meeting that never ends Picture the scene: a project is behind schedule, the room is tense, and everyone has an opinion. One person is worried about the budget. Another is convinced there’s a better way to do it. A … Continue reading
Can AI really think creatively and strategically?
There’s a version of the AI conversation that goes like this: AI will automate the routine, freeing humans to focus on the creative and strategic work that really matters. It’s an attractive idea. The problem is that most organisations don’t … Continue reading
Six Thinking Hats®: the meeting method that changes everything
Think about the last difficult decision your team had to make together. How did the meeting go? Did everyone contribute? Did you explore the risks thoroughly, without getting stuck in them? Did someone come up with a genuinely new idea … Continue reading
Change programmes have a 70% failure rate
Change programmes have a 70% failure rate. McKinsey has been saying this for two decades, and the number hasn’t moved. The plan gets signed off, the town hall goes well, and then six months later, everyone’s back to the old … Continue reading
Curiosity, Courage, Creativity, Compassion, Communication: the skills AI can’t do for you
LinkedIn’s CEO just challenged one of the biggest assumptions about work: the skills that matter most aren’t technical. It’s a striking claim from the leader of a platform built on job titles, qualifications and professional credentials – one we think … Continue reading
Creative thinking: your secret weapon for AI adoption
Six in ten FTSE350 employers reckon they need more creative thinkers, yet almost none are training for it. A Universities UK survey found 61% of senior leaders say creative thinkers are essential to getting the most from AI. Another 63% … Continue reading
Same thinking, same problems – is your organisation struggling to solve problems?
Many organisational challenges persist because of how the problem is approached, not because of a lack of capability. Most organisations don’t lack intelligence, capability or data. The challenge is that established ways of thinking are often applied to problems that … Continue reading
Change Management starts with good ideas
Change initiatives frequently fail due to unclear thinking, emotional resistance, poor communication and a lack of creative problem-solving. Traditional change models (e.g., Kotter or ADKAR) provide structure, but they don’t always equip individuals with how to think during change. The … Continue reading
Too many meetings. Too much conflict. Still going round in circles?
“Fast, complex, collaborative but more time spent debating than deciding”. That’s how one leader described their business to me. And they’re far from alone. Unstructured thinking is frustrating and costly. Time is wasted, good ideas get lost and decisions often … Continue reading
When strong voices dominate the room: why HR leaders are turning to Six Thinking Hats®
If you’ve ever sat in on a senior team meeting and thought, “This isn’t a talent issue – it’s a thinking issue,” you’re not alone. HR and L&D leaders across industries are telling us the same thing: their leadership teams … Continue reading
Lateral Thinking: Your secret weapon in the ChatGPT era
I get it. We’re all a bit freaked out by how good AI is getting at doing our jobs. I recently heard that a client generated an entire business plan in under a minute. My first thought? ‘Well, there goes … Continue reading
Combat information overload and unlock your team’s potential
Get your message across, supercharge productivity and spend less time in meetings Information overload is a significant and growing challenge, impacting both individuals and organisations. It slows down cognitive functions, affects mental health, disrupts decision-making and reduces productivity. The constant … Continue reading
Neurodivergents: Assemble! Superpowers for staff. How ‘Six Hat’ thinking boosts engagement with neurodivergent workers
According to the National Autistic Society, 45% of neurodivergent people have lost or left their job because of challenges due to being misunderstood. In today’s diverse work environment, embracing neurodivergence is both an ethical imperative and a strategic advantage. … Continue reading
Are you ready to revolutionise the way you tackle meetings?
Six Thinking Hats® is a game-changing tool that has transformed decision-making processes for businesses around the world. Why Six Thinking Hats®? Developed by Dr. Edward de Bono, the Six Thinking Hats® framework simplifies thinking by breaking it down into six … Continue reading
Why creativity is your most important business asset
Creativity is not just about artistic endeavours, it’s a strategic tool that fosters growth, competitiveness and sustainability. Several businesses have struggled or ultimately failed due to a lack of creativity, innovation or adaptation to changing market conditions. While it’s not … Continue reading
Once you’ve made your mind up… changing it can be really difficult… or can it?
In business, changing your mind can be seen as a weakness and that you have a lack of clarity or direction. People who change their minds can be considered unreliable or indifferent. Changing your mind in business, known as pivoting, … Continue reading
How Lateral Thinking enriches team creativity and collaboration
Virtually every business in the world promotes ‘teamwork’. Teams play a crucial role in generating profit, gaining market share, enhancing customer service, increasing engagement and securing a competitive edge—all contributing to organisational success. Teams are the social ‘bond’ that blend … Continue reading
Allowing people’s creativity to flow when writing for business
Richard Morris, Accredited Trainer Creativity in business enhances success. It fosters engagement, teamwork, innovative ideas, product and service enhancements. Breaking old thinking habits and work patterns. But how often do businesses actually promote creativity in their business writing? In creative … Continue reading
Agile decision-making
Although the Agile model was developed with software design in mind, two of its principles have been widely adopted by businesses in all sectors: Valuing individuals and interactions over processes. Responding to change over following a plan. These are appealing, … Continue reading
Design thinking
The business world has been abuzz with the concept of Design Thinking over the last few years – and with good reason. This non-linear, iterative process is a great way to avoid the trap of rushing in to solve a … Continue reading
Sur/petition – focus on value creation
“Sur/petition: creating value monopolies when everyone else is merely competing” Edward de Bono Competition is based on the idea of different individuals or companies striving to win a part of the same thing. Dr Edward de Bono suggests an alternative: … Continue reading
Walking in the shadow of a giant. My career with Edward de Bono.
Edward de Bono – 19th May 1933 – 9th June 2021 It is with great personal sadness that I report that Dr Edward de Bono, a man of infinite talent, brilliance and a close personal friend of mine, has passed … Continue reading
Leaders can do more with less
Leaders have opportunities to use creative thinking every day. Whether they’re making improvements, cutting costs or solving problems, they have to go beyond what has been done before. The constant need to do more for less demands creativity from … Continue reading
Robust and clear ideas to take forward
Now that Covid-19 has challenged us to work and think, more creatively, it would be a shame to lose this new ability of approaching life with an innovative mindset. Dr Edward de Bono’s ‘Lateral Thinking’ gives the tools to come … Continue reading
Stop talking over me! Making the most from online meetings.
This weekend I decided to attempt a family ‘Mother’s Day’ get together on Zoom – given the social distancing rules in place. We are not a particularly quiet family, but we are polite and usually observe the informal rules of conversation … Continue reading
Too busy to think?
The decision is made – two weeks later you have to backtrack! How many times has that happened to you, either as the person making the decision or as a part of the team bringing it to life. This happens … Continue reading
Changing the way you do things
By Richard White – de Bono Accredited Trainer. Change for the better is always good but we have to make it happen, we can’t sit back and wait for it. Adding to that, the old adage “nothing is perfect” suggests … Continue reading
Collaborative meetings
By Richard White – de Bono Accredited Trainer. “That was a great meeting, everyone pulled together to work through the issues, came up with solutions and agreed on the best way forward. I can’t wait to get this project started.” … Continue reading
Adding a process to creativity is not restrictive
By Richard White – de Bono Accredited Trainer. Although many people think of creativity as being about a select group of unconstrained, “creative” individuals having inspirational ideas, the practical truth is very different. Inspirational ideas are great when they occur … Continue reading
Taking time to save time
By Richard White – de Bono Accredited Trainer. Creative thinking and innovation are key to the prosperity of most businesses and organisations today. This is especially true, as we look to the future – there will be some major changes … Continue reading
Creativity for leaders
By Richard White – de Bono Accredited Trainer. Leaders have opportunities to use creative thinking every day. Whether they’re making improvements, cutting costs or solving problems, they have to go beyond what has been done before. The constant need to … Continue reading
Increase and improve collaboration
Two heads may be better than one, but too many cooks spoil the broth… How do we make collaboration work? Collaboration needs a framework. Beyond thinking about the project we’re working on – we also need to be thinking about … Continue reading
Are you getting the most from your team?
We all know that team members have different strengths and weaknesses: some people are good at detail, some prefer high-level thinking, some are creative, some are risk-averse. And bringing these different qualities together is what makes a team so effective… … Continue reading
Better, stronger, faster decisions.
How do you and your team make decisions? Do you: Jump on the most likely-looking solution, because you’re pushed for time? Listen to the person with the most experience? Look to the past and see what worked and whether it … Continue reading
Create a culture of dynamic meetings
Most meetings don’t work hard enough. Don’t take our word for it: A 2016 study estimates that inefficient meetings cost the UK economy £582m per week, with one in three people reporting that many of their meetings are unnecessary. 95% … Continue reading
Engaging stakeholders
The skills required to understand, engage, manage and communicate with stakeholders. By Trish Thurley, Indigo Master Trainer and Richard Evans Stakeholder management can be the difference between success and failure for anyone who has to deal with other people. Who … Continue reading
Eco bottle caps double as Lego blocks. Classic Lateral Thinking in action.
Brazil-based innovative packaging developer Clever Caps offer an environmentally friendly solution to the production of bottle caps – while also adding value to the objects to encourage consumers to re-use them. We like this classic use of Lateral Thinking and Provocation that Edward de Bono would be proud of. Continue reading
The Graduate: A day in the life
Being a graduate is scary. This year’s cohort of freshly graduated newbies to the workplace are the second year group to leave university lumbered with higher debt than ever, with more pressure than ever to perform and succeed. I am … Continue reading
My day is just meetings, meetings, meetings…
Does this sound like a familiar problem? Too many of us find ourselves spending many hours a day in meeting after meeting, which all too often fail to reach any sort of positive outcome, even after hours of debate. The … Continue reading
Will your idea work?
So, ‘innovation is a part of your culture’ and you have accepted that ‘change is inevitable…’ You have set your focus and generated fresh, fast and on-demand ideas, so what next? Do you just pop them in a box somewhere … Continue reading
Where do you do your best thinking?
In the shower… Driving in the car… Lying in bed… Exercising… Gardening… Dancing… We ask this question at our Six Thinking Hats® training sessions. If you are like 95% of people we’ve surveyed… your answer is doing something alone that … Continue reading
