At one time or another we have all been guilty of it, and frequently, it leads us to make the wrong decisions – either outright or in the form of maintaining the status quo rather than making a decision at all – and our companies, projects, jobs and happiness pay the price in the form of lost or unrealized opportunities, stagnation or decline. It’s easy to lose objectivity because our collective and individual egos are wrapped up in the work we do and the ideas we conceive. It’s natural to feel emotionally connected to our work, our image and our pride.
So how do we step back and objectively evaluate the projects, processes and organizations that are intrinsically tied to our sense of self-worth? Edward De Bono, a leading psychologist and consultant to international corporations like IBM, Exxon, Proctor & Gamble and Monsanto, has developed a methodology for organizing and depersonalizing the process of thinking in the Six Thinking Hats. De Bono explains that “we try to do too much at once. Emotions, information, logic, hope and creativity all crowd in on us. It is like juggling with too many balls.” To overcome this phenomenon – in groups or independently – he has created six hats: the white hat for neutral , objective thinking concerned primarily with facts and figures, the red hat for the emotional view, the black hat for cautious, “devil’s advocate” thinking, the yellow hat for the optimistic view, the green hat for creativity and new ideas, and the blue hat for organizing and moderating the views discovered along the way. While the concept of literally or figuratively “putting on” one of De Bono’s thinking hats may sound hokey – it enables us to emphasize “what can be rather than just what is” and focus on “how we design a way forward – not on who is right and who is wrong.”
As we struggle to emerge from the economic downturn and lay the groundwork to thrive in the years ahead, we must accept that many of the rules of successful business operations, investing, marketing and advertising have changed drastically in the last 18 months. The status quo has been up-ended by new technologies, regulations and competitive landscape. To bounce back from the recession and create value in the new economic reality, many organizations must rethink who are they are, what they do and how to effectively reach the customers that will make or break their business. We can’t afford to let the scars of the downturn stand in the way of progress. So sideline those egos, vulnerabilities and fears and get down to the tough work of moving forward – the discoveries you make along the way can be the foundation of a brave new identity and strategy for success in the post-recession marketplace.
LiveWire Marketing, a Denver marketing firm, works with large corporations, smaller companies and everything in between. Founded 11 years ago, this team of senior-level talent continues to drive results for its clients. LiveWire has successfully completed a diverse set of projects including brand development, name creation, marketing strategy, social media initiatives and integrated marketing campaigns. To find out what LiveWire Marketing can do for you call 303.221.1912 or email info@LiveWireMktg.com.
LiveWire Marketing, a leader in Denver advertising.