Edward de Bono 'How to have a beautiful mind' at Mind & Its Potential 2011

Summary

Dr. Edward de Bono, a leading authority on creative thinking, presents the importance of exploring possibilities in thinking, rather than just focusing on finding the 'right answer.' He introduces the concept of lateral thinking and his famous 'Six Thinking Hats' technique, which encourages different modes of thinking. De Bono emphasizes the need for creativity, open-mindedness, and exploring multiple perspectives to unlock human potential. Using examples from science and practical exercises, he demonstrates how these methods can transform decision-making, foster innovation, and cultivate a 'beautiful mind.'

Takeaways

• 😀 Dr. Edward de Bono is a leading authority on creative thinking and developed the Six Thinking Hats technique.
• 🧠 De Bono emphasizes the importance of exploring possibilities beyond simply finding the 'right' answer.
• 🛠️ He highlights that traditional education often focuses on finding the truth, which limits creativity and value creation.
• 🎩 The Six Thinking Hats represent different modes of thinking, including information, emotions, critical thinking, values, creativity, and organization.
• 🌍 De Bono's thinking tools, including lateral thinking, have been widely adopted in schools, corporations, and even courts of law.
• 📖 De Bono has written over 70 books, which have been translated into 40 languages, showcasing his global influence on creative thinking.
• ⚖️ He introduced the concept of 'excellent but not enough,' highlighting that excellence in thinking needs continuous improvement.
• 😄 De Bono believes humor plays a critical role in demonstrating the brain’s ability to shift perspectives and patterns.
• 🌱 Creativity, according to De Bono, is essential for innovation and developing new solutions by exploring unconventional possibilities.
• 👥 De Bono promotes the idea that a beautiful mind is open to understanding others’ perspectives and exploring different viewpoints during disagreements.

Q & A

Who is Dr. Edward de Bono, and why is he significant?

Dr. Edward de Bono is a leading authority in the field of creative thinking, known for developing the Six Thinking Hats technique, the Direct Attention Thinking Tools framework, and formalizing the concept of lateral thinking. He has written over 70 books and lectured in 58 countries.

What is the Six Thinking Hats technique?

The Six Thinking Hats is a tool for group discussion and individual thinking, where each colored hat represents a different mode of thinking: white for facts, red for emotions, black for critical thinking, yellow for positive aspects, green for creativity, and blue for organizing. It helps people look at problems from various perspectives.

What story does Dr. de Bono tell to illustrate the importance of possibility thinking?

Dr. de Bono shares the story of Dr. JB Marshall from Western Australia, who suggested that peptic ulcers might be caused by an infection. Despite initial skepticism, Dr. Marshall proved his hypothesis, leading to a breakthrough in medical treatment, where ulcers can now be treated with antibiotics.

How does Dr. de Bono contrast traditional thinking with the idea of exploring possibilities?

Dr. de Bono explains that traditional thinking, influenced by Greek philosophy and education, focuses on finding the right answer and proving others wrong. In contrast, possibility thinking opens up new ideas and approaches, which is essential for creativity and innovation.

What does Dr. de Bono mean by the term 'Ebner'?

‘Ebner’ is a term coined by Dr. de Bono that means 'excellent but not enough.' It reflects the idea that something can be good but still needs improvement or further exploration, particularly in tasks and operations.

Why does Dr. de Bono emphasize the importance of creativity in thinking?

Dr. de Bono believes creativity is crucial because it allows people to explore new ideas, escape rigid thinking patterns, and generate value beyond finding the 'right' answer. Creativity enables lateral thinking, which leads to new solutions and innovations.

How does humor relate to creative thinking according to Dr. de Bono?

Dr. de Bono suggests that humor is significant because it demonstrates the brain's ability to recognize and switch between different patterns. Humor involves a sudden shift in perspective, similar to how lateral thinking helps move out of established thought channels into new ones.

What role does provocation play in lateral thinking?

Provocation is a technique used in lateral thinking to challenge existing ideas by suggesting seemingly absurd or impossible concepts. These provocations help generate new ideas and solutions, as illustrated by Dr. de Bono’s example of moving a factory's intake downstream from its own pollution output.

What is the relationship between intelligence and thinking, according to Dr. de Bono?

Dr. de Bono compares intelligence to the horsepower of a car and thinking to the skill of the driver. Intelligence alone doesn't guarantee good thinking; skill in exploring different ideas and possibilities is equally important. High intelligence can also lead to arrogance, where a person defends their views rather than exploring alternatives.

What is Dr. de Bono's key message about developing a 'beautiful mind'?

Dr. de Bono argues that a beautiful mind is one that opens up possibilities and explores various perspectives rather than sticking rigidly to finding the 'right' answer. It involves understanding other points of view, thinking creatively, and embracing new ideas.

Outlines

00:00

🎤 Introduction to Dr. Edward de Bono

The speaker enthusiastically introduces Dr. Edward de Bono, an influential figure in creative thinking, best known for his Six Thinking Hats technique and his contributions to lateral thinking. The introduction highlights his global influence, with over 70 books and lectures in 58 countries, showcasing his impact on creativity, innovation, and human potential.

05:05

💡 The Importance of Possibility in Science and Thinking

Dr. de Bono begins with a story about Dr. JB Marshall, who discovered that stomach ulcers were caused by infections, emphasizing how he challenged the scientific status quo. This anecdote introduces the concept of 'possibility'—how thinking beyond what is currently accepted can lead to breakthroughs, a mindset that applies not only in science but also in everyday life and creative thinking.

10:08

🔄 Expanding the Mind with Possibility

Dr. de Bono elaborates on the importance of considering possibilities in thinking. He critiques the historical focus on finding the 'right' answer, stating that while truth is important, it's not enough. Possibilities allow people to explore and understand more deeply, especially when dealing with human interactions, and it contributes to developing a 'beautiful mind' that goes beyond judgment and is open to different perspectives.

15:12

🎩 The Six Thinking Hats Approach

Dr. de Bono explains the Six Thinking Hats method, where each colored hat represents a different mode of thinking, from gathering information (white) to emotions (red) to creativity (green). He describes how this method has been widely adopted in various sectors, including legal systems and corporate environments, for making decisions more efficiently. The hats encourage structured thinking and the exploration of ideas from multiple angles.

20:14

🧠 Creative Thinking and Humor in Problem Solving

Creativity and humor play vital roles in innovative thinking, as humor involves asymmetric patterning—a mental shift that leads to new insights. Dr. de Bono gives examples, including the concept of 'provocation' (intentionally stating something absurd to spark new ideas), which can lead to innovative solutions, such as environmental regulations for factories. He emphasizes that creativity is about moving laterally, beyond established ideas, to open new channels of thought.

25:15

🔍 Beyond Truth: Excellent but Not Enough

Dr. de Bono introduces the concept of 'Ebner'—something that is excellent but not enough. He explains that while finding the truth is essential, it's not the only purpose of thinking. Creating value through creativity is equally important. He connects this with humor, which he views as a key behavior that allows people to escape linear patterns of thinking and find new, logical perspectives after a lateral shift.

🛠️ Applying the Six Thinking Hats

Dr. de Bono demonstrates how to use the Six Thinking Hats in practice by leading a thought exercise on improving buses. Participants use the white hat (information gathering), red hat (emotions), green hat (creativity), yellow hat (benefits), black hat (criticism), and blue hat (organization) in sequence. This process shows how structured thinking can generate diverse ideas and lead to more well-rounded solutions.

🏎️ Intelligence vs. Thinking

Dr. de Bono concludes by distinguishing between intelligence and thinking, comparing intelligence to the horsepower of a car and thinking to the skill of the driver. He warns of the dangers of high intelligence, such as arrogance, which can limit one's ability to explore different viewpoints and possibilities. He encourages the use of thinking as a tool for exploration and creativity, not just defense of one's own beliefs.

Keywords

💡Creative Thinking

Creative thinking refers to the process of generating new, innovative ideas and solutions. In the video, Dr. Edward de Bono is introduced as a pioneer in this field, emphasizing its importance before it was widely recognized. The concept relates to the main theme as de Bono discusses how creative thinking allows individuals to explore possibilities beyond conventional thinking.

💡Six Thinking Hats

The Six Thinking Hats is a framework developed by Dr. Edward de Bono to enhance group decision-making and creativity. Each hat represents a different mode of thinking (e.g., white for facts, red for emotions, black for criticism, etc.). This concept is central to the video as de Bono explains how the technique allows individuals to approach problems from various perspectives and foster a more holistic understanding.

💡Lateral Thinking

Lateral thinking, another term coined by Dr. Edward de Bono, involves solving problems through an indirect and creative approach, often by looking at issues from new angles. The video emphasizes how lateral thinking differs from traditional logic and truth-based thinking, allowing for breakthroughs like the medical discovery described by de Bono about peptic ulcers.

💡Possibilities

Possibilities refer to the exploration of alternative ideas and outcomes. De Bono stresses that thinking about possibilities, rather than focusing solely on finding the 'right answer,' opens up creative potential. This idea is repeated throughout the video as the foundation of developing a 'beautiful mind'—one that can explore different avenues of thought.

💡Truth vs. Value Creation

The distinction between truth and value creation is a major theme in the video. De Bono explains how traditional thinking, rooted in ancient Greek philosophy, is focused on finding objective truths. However, he argues that thinking should also aim to create value, which involves the generation of new ideas, possibilities, and innovations.

💡Peptic Ulcer Story

The story of the peptic ulcer, as told by de Bono, illustrates how creative thinking can lead to groundbreaking discoveries. Dr. JB Marshall's idea that ulcers were caused by bacteria, rather than stress or lifestyle factors, was initially laughed at. This story serves as an example of how thinking beyond established truths (possibilities) can lead to new, transformative solutions.

💡EBNE (Excellent But Not Enough)

EBNE stands for 'Excellent But Not Enough,' a term introduced by de Bono to describe ideas or solutions that are good but can be improved. He emphasizes that in creative thinking, it's important to recognize that even excellent ideas may not be sufficient, and there is always room for further improvement or development.

💡Argument System

The argument system refers to the traditional method of thinking, rooted in Greek philosophy, where individuals argue to prove each other wrong. De Bono criticizes this system as being limited, as it focuses on finding the truth rather than generating new ideas. In contrast, he promotes the Six Thinking Hats as a more effective way to think collaboratively and creatively.

💡Provocation

Provocation is a technique used in lateral thinking where seemingly absurd or impossible ideas are introduced to stimulate creative thought. In the video, de Bono uses the example of placing a factory downstream from its own waste output as a provocation, which leads to the practical solution of having factories take responsibility for their pollution. Provocation is a tool to break out of conventional thinking patterns.

💡Humor and Asymmetric Patterning

De Bono describes humor as the most significant behavior of the brain because it involves asymmetric patterning—moving from one thought to another unexpectedly. This concept relates to lateral thinking, as humor and creativity both involve unexpected connections that lead to new insights. He uses a joke about hell to illustrate how humor works by shifting perspectives.

Highlights

Dr. Edward de Bono is a leading authority on creative thinking, best known for developing the Six Thinking Hats and Lateral Thinking concepts.

The Six Thinking Hats technique provides a structured approach to thinking, involving different modes such as information gathering, creativity, critical thinking, and decision-making.

Dr. de Bono emphasizes the importance of considering possibilities, rather than just seeking the right answer, to cultivate a 'beautiful mind'.

Dr. de Bono shares a story about Dr. JB Marshall, who challenged conventional thinking by proving that peptic ulcers were caused by infection, changing medical treatment worldwide.

The Six Thinking Hats are: White (information), Red (emotions), Black (critical), Yellow (positive aspects), Green (creativity), and Blue (organizing).

Dr. de Bono criticizes traditional education for focusing solely on finding the right answer, advocating instead for a balance that includes exploring possibilities.

He introduces the term ‘EBNE’ (Excellent But Not Enough) to emphasize that good ideas can still be improved upon, especially in creative and operational contexts.

Dr. de Bono argues that culturally, we have developed thinking to find the truth, but not for creating value, which limits our creative potential.

He highlights the importance of humor as a key indicator of an asymmetric patterning system in the brain, essential for creativity.

Lateral Thinking techniques like challenge and provocation are formal tools to escape traditional thinking paths and generate innovative ideas.

The Six Hats method is used globally, from schools to corporate boardrooms, even in juries to facilitate better decision-making processes.

Dr. de Bono discusses how traditional argument systems, derived from ancient Greek philosophy, limit creative thinking by focusing on proving others wrong.

He stresses that creativity involves opening up thinking to explore and elaborate on possibilities rather than closing it down to find one right answer.

Dr. de Bono argues that intelligence is like horsepower in a car, while thinking skill is like the driver; intelligence alone doesn’t guarantee good thinking.

He warns that high intelligence can lead to arrogance, where individuals defend their viewpoints rather than exploring alternative possibilities.

Transcripts

[Music]

okay we're um up to one of our major

guests and I know you're really looking

forward to and I'm thrilled to introduce

him to the stage and honored and a

little bit scared um I didn't know what

hat to wear because I will be

introducing Dr Edward debono um and who

better to open today's colle ction of

presentations on your creative potential

which is something that I think we're

all really interested in here creative

potential human potential and our

emotional potential now he needs no

introduction but it's really worth

listening to it again just to be

reminded of how astonishing this man

actually is Edward devono is one of the

world's leading authorities in the field

of creative thinking that's before

anybody even knew what creative thinking

was he basically I don't know whether he

inv Ed creative thinking but he made us

creative enough to think about creative

thinking now he's renowned for his uh

the development of the six thinking hats

technique and also the direct attention

Thinking Tools framework um he's the

originator of the concept um and the

formal tools of lateral thinking which

is now part of language enjoying an

entry in the Oxford dictionary I mean

talk about make a mark on your world um

he's written over 70 books with

translations into 40 languages and has

been invited to lecture in 58 countries

that is one hell of a passport um and I

was with him yesterday as many who who

was in the workshop yesterday wasn't it

fabulous um with him and look you've got

to love a guy who says it's not a

mistake it's a fully Justified Venture

that for reasons beyond control did not

succeed please give him a big warm Round

of Applause and welcome to the stage to

present how to have a beautiful mind the

beautiful man himself Dr Edward debono

good morning to

all I'm going to tell you an

extraordinary story it's an Australian

story and it's from the world of science

and

medicine and there's a condition

called peptic

ulcer and that means a stomach ulcer or

doal ulcer if you had this unfortunate

condition you might be on antd

medicines for 20 even 50 years

you might lose your stomach removed by

surgery you had a very restricted Dart

you couldn't have coffee you couldn't

have alcohol and so on it was pretty

miserable

life then a doctor in West Australia his

name was JB Marshall I

think he said maybe a peptic alcer is an

infection

inection everyone roared with laugh and

said don't be stupid the very strong

acid in the stomach could kill any bug

anyway eventually he proved his point

after having given himself an

ala and

today the treatment of an ulcer instead

of 20 to 50 years on antes are losing

your stomach and so on and so on

today all that you need is

antibiotics for one

week it's one of the most extraordinary

changes in medicine now the reason I'm

telling that story is that this doctor

JB Marshall thought of

possibility that's the key word

possibility now in science of course

scientists are trained not to think of

possibilities because if you think

possibilities people think you go back

to the days of

Witchcraft where everything is possible

and so on and so on so it's an are to no

stick only to what is likely hypothesis

facts and so on no possibilities now

it's the same with our thinking in

general

because at the Renaissance in the Middle

Ages schools universities thinking were

in the hands of the church

and when Greek thinking came into Europe

that's Greek thinking of the gang of

three Aristotle Plato

Socrates they wanted thinking to find

the

truth use of that being to prove

Heretics

wrong and to support the belief system

so we develop very good thinking for

finding the truth but culturally we have

never actually developed thinking for

for creating

value individuals have to be sure

entrepreneurs innovators and so on but

culturally never and that's very key and

that is also to do with

possibility in other words education is

all about the right

answer the whole of school is there to

say this is the right answer you must

get the right answer well that's useful

nothing wrong with that we need the

right answer you need how to drive on

the road you need how to add up the

groceries whatever the right answer is

very important but it's not sufficient

it's all like saying what is the purpose

of a house purpose of a house is

ultimately to protect you from the rain

and the wind but how many of you live in

houses that only protect you from the

rain and wind the answer is no one it's

what else is added to that which creates

value so certainly finding the truth is

very important but it's not enough we

need also to think of possibilities now

that's what gives you a beautiful mind

possibility let suppose you on a

situation and someone seems

very aggressive or something in your

mind you say yes possibly he's an

aggressive person possibly there he's

insecure possibly there's something

which has upset him you think of all the

possibilities and that is eventually

what gives you a beautiful mind to think

of possibilities not just this is the

right answer not just judgment but

elaborating around possibilities it

doesn't mean you're always going to be

right no perhaps not but in any

situation you see things more fully

instead of having a mind which just goes

like that you've got a mind which goes

like that like

that in other words opening up

possibilities so that's a very key part

of thinking not just how do you get to

the right answer as quickly as possible

you need to get to the right answer and

you can do it as quickly as possible but

don't stop there think of

possibilities that's why for example and

I was talking about it

yesterday the argument system which was

developed by the ancient

Greeks a a orgies with b and each one is

trying to prove the other wrong not

trying to develop new ideas or anything

of the sort just trying to prove the

other person wrong which is a very very

limited form of uh uh thinking so

instead of that there's the six hats

which some of you know

about six hats means as you sit

thinking there are six different colored

hats which you can wear and each one

indicates the mode of

thinking so for the white hat

the mode is

information what is the information how

do we get it what do we need questions

want to ask the red hat you express your

intuition your

feelings emotions and so

on the black hat is the normal critical

hat what's wrong why won't work and so

on the yoh hat is Val

values benative positive

aspects then we have the green

hat which is

creativity and finally the blue hat is

the organizing hat you can use them in

any sequence you

like and that's very widely used it's

used by four old in school it's used by

board members of some of the largest

corporations in the world in New York

one of my trainers was teaching juries

and Law Courts to use it using the hats

they reach unanimous decisions very

quickly the judges were so impressed

that in at least three states now the

judge can order that the jury be trained

in six hats it's a big change in

thinking after 2,400 years now there's a

word I was mentioning yesterday as

well a word which is really needed the

word is Ebner EB NE

Amna means

excellent

but not

enough now the reason being that in our

traditional dialectic system a is AR

with B B has to say a is right and I

agree with him fine or a is wrong and

we've got to change or remove that

there's no way of saying yes that is

excellent but not enough now the reason

reason there has been no way for 2,400

years is that if you're dealing with the

truth you can't have excellent but not

enough you either have the truth or you

don't have the truth so that word could

never exist but if you're dealing with

operations doing things making things

making something happen carrying out

tasks then very often you can say that

is excellent but not enough doesn't mean

it's bad it means it's excellent but not

enough and that's why we have never

invented a word like that for 2,400

years because we have believed that the

purpose of thinking is simply to find

the truth I have no problem with that

purpose of thinking is to find the truth

but that is EV that is excellent but not

enough the purpose of thinking is also

to create value and of course that's

where creativity comes in as well that

purpose of creativity

is to change to make things better

and the most significant behavior of the

brain is

humor I doubt if any philosophers ever

said that but humor is the most

significant Behavior because humor

indicates an

asymmetric patterning

system now all pattering systems

asymmetric trick you go from A to B that

is the definition of a

pattern but you can also go from C to a

but not from a to c that's why it's

asymmetric all pattering systems are

like that what happens in humor is

you're taken down this strand then

you're suddenly moved here and in

hindsight yes that's obvious that's what

makes something amusing the example I

always used indeed I'd used yesterday

and I I apologize to those who were

there yesterday as well an old man of 90

Goes to Hell and uh he wanders around he

sees a friend of his also 89 sitting

there with a beautiful long blonde

sitting on his knee so he says to his

friend are sure this is hell because you

seem to be having rather a good time the

friend looks up and says no no he says

it's hell right he said I'm the

punishment for

her in other words once you're there

it's absolutely logical and that's what

happens with creativity with creativity

we make the effort to move

laterally that's where lateral comes

from laterally out of the existing

channel to new channels once we're there

in hindsight it makes sense and there

are various formal techniques and

processes for doing that things like

challenge which means we say yes the

existing idea is fine but for the moment

we put it aside and see if we can

develop Alternatives and then things

like um what is the concept cep here how

else can we deliver the concept and then

provocation provocation upsets a lot of

traditional philosophers and auditions

because in provocation you can say

something which sounds absolutely doed

and

impossible so one time in California I

was talking to the ecology group about

500 people they said we have a problem

with

rivers effect on the river puts out

pollution people down stream suffer what

can we do about that so as a provocation

I suggested po which is a word I

invented meaning provocative operation

po the factory is Downstream of

itself that sounds pretty impossible how

can the factor be there and there at the

same time from it comes a very very

simple idea which is now legislation in

a number of countries that if you build

a factor on the river your input must be

Downstream of your own output so you're

the first to get your

pollution very obvious very logical

could have been thought of 100 years ago

but wasn't

so provocation is a way of getting new

ideas getting escaping you from the main

channel so having a beautiful mind

involves opening up elaborating

possibilities creativity it's the

opposite of being dogmatic and arrogant

and sure and only looking for the right

answer I'm not against looking for the

right answer by all means find it but

don't limit your thinking just to say

this is the way it is this is the way it

has to be so opening things up and

opening

possibilities so if you're involved in

an argument with

someone you make an effort to say okay

let me get inside that person's mind

what is that person thinking why do they

take that point of view is there

anything interesting in what he or she

is saying uh what are the values behind

it you know there's an effort to

understand rather than an effort to

argue and attack and that makes for a

much more beautiful mind in other words

exploring exploration is a key

word

exploration

possibilities in general opening things

up rather than closing things down our

normal habits of thinking in education

is closing things down what is the right

answer here what is the is as opposed to

what are the possibilities possibilities

and that's should be much more the case

in science it's there are a lot of

things which could do with better

thinking in science and people looking

at possibilities but the reason they

don't is they say as I mentioned before

they say that's what happened with the

Witchcraft where everything was possible

and we never made any progress and

that's true that's true you need to keep

a balance it's rather like if you've got

tomato ketchup and you want to put it on

your French fries you put on a certain

amount you don't smother it in it so you

got to keep a balance with possibilities

and certainty by all means but don't

feel embarrassed about possibilities

because possibilities are important so

let's give you a very simple

exercise and imagine we were using this

six hats and we'll start with the white

hat

white hats for

information and let's take a subject

let's take a subject about um

buses and we want some new ideas about

buses and we'll start with a white hat

and for the white hat just for one

minute with your neighbor just discuss

some of the your experience of

buses so your experience of buses just

for one

minute e

okay

okay we move on to the next hat the red

hat just your feelings your feelings

your experience of buses what you feel

about buses you have 30 seconds for that

CU all you need to do is express your

feeling

okay we'll have a green hat now

creativity and we put in a provocation

po all buses should be half size half

the size they are at the moment now from

that you want to move on to develop some

new idea so you have one minute on

that e

okay now the Yellow Hat on any idea

you've thought of the benefits the

values of that idea one minute yellow

hat on any idea you've thought

of e

[Music]

okay now the black hat in general it

always makes sense to use the yellow

before the black because if the black

hat the negatives are very strong you

don't make much effort to find the Valu

so usually yellow and four black one

minute black hat the bad points the

negatives on the idea you've

thought e

okay and finally the blue hat to put

together the outcome the summary of your

thinking and again one minute put

together the outcome of your

thinking e

okay now the key thing of course about

the hats is when it's used in a meeting

everyone at any moment is wearing the

same hat and there's a physiological

reason for it because the hypothalamus

in the brain releases certain chemical

depending on your mood which sensitize

different areas of the brain and so uh

if you don't have a way of changing a

mood then you just usually have the

negative mode which isn't enough now

just a final point the relationship

between intelligence and

thinking and it's rather like the

relationship between a Motorcar and the

driver intelligence is like the

horsepower of a

car thinking is like the skill of the

driver

so you can have a highly intelligent

person who's not actually a good thinker

may be good at understanding things yes

but not very good at doing things or you

may have a less person intelligent

person who's a better driver the other

danger of high intelligence is the

arrogance which goes with it when

someone uses their intelligence simply

to defend their point of view never to

explore other points of view or open up

possibilities so I've got one minute to

go so so thank you all very much

[Applause]

[Music]