RDPSD staff explore new perspectives with Six Thinking Hats

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to see a problem from every angle? That’s exactly what 50 staff members from Red Deer Public Schools experienced on December 3 during the latest Aspiring Leaders Sessions.

The session focused on Six Thinking Hats, a method developed by Edward de Bono that encourages structured, versatile approaches to decision-making and problem-solving. Each of the six metaphorical ‘hats’ represents a distinct way of thinking, helping attendees analyze challenges from multiple perspectives. The Six Thinking Hats include:

• White Hat - focuses on facts and information, asking for data and assessing available knowledge objectively.
• Red Hat - allows expression of feelings and intuition, promoting emotional insights without justification.
• Black Hat - identifies potential risks, pitfalls, and challenges, encouraging a critical look to prevent mistakes.
• Yellow Hat - Embodies optimism, seeking positive outcomes, benefits, and feasibility.
• Green Hat - Fosters creativity and alternatives, exploring new ideas and innovative solutions.
• Blue Hat - Manages the thinking process itself, organizing the sequence and structure of discussion.

“When faced with an issue, we often rely on familiar ways to find solutions,” said Corrine Thorsteinson, Associate Superintendent of People Services. “This session challenged attendees to expand their thinking by stepping into roles they might not naturally gravitate toward.”

After gaining an understanding of the Six Thinking Hats, attendees had a chance to work through some real-world scenarios with their table groups utilizing different hats than they are used to.

“Using the hats allowed staff to approach problems from fresh perspectives,” said Corrine. “It was a chance to stretch their thinking, build empathy for other viewpoints, and discover innovative approaches to decision-making.”

There are three more Aspiring Leaders sessions scheduled to take place this school year. These include:

• Developing Habits for Leadership on February 6
• Leadership Spotlight on April 3
• Leadership Symposium on May 29

“These sessions are a perfect opportunity for any Red Deer Public employee who wants to explore whether a formal leadership position is right for them; wants to build or enhance their leadership toolkit; wants to lead where they are at; or wants an opportunity to learn from and engage with other colleagues interested in leadership,” said Corrine.

To register, please contact peopleservices@rdpsd.ab.ca.