Lynn Reed
Associates believes there are three types of thinking skills that
are key to success in all aspects of life: critical thinking,
parallel thinking and lateral thinking.
1.
Critical Thinking: A methodical
approach to analyzing, evaluating and synthesizing information as a
guide to action. In a real world business environment, critical
thinking is frequently used to solve complex problems or identify
opportunities to enhance performance.
Depending on the
degree of complexity, Critical Thinking skills frequently include
steps such as compiling and assessing information about the external
environment including competitive strengths and weaknesses, defining
clear objectives, developing creative approaches to achieving the
objectives and developing plans for execution. Barrier management
and measurement processes are critical to successful execution.
Course:
Advanced
Business Skills Program
2.
Parallel Thinking: A process
that segments individual or group thinking that leads to significant
increases in the efficiency and effectiveness of the thinking
process. Parallel Thinking enables a major behavioral shift away
from traditional thinking styles, which tend to be adversarial
and/or hierarchical in nature.
The primary
advantages of Parallel Thinking include improved decision making
productivity, greater degrees of participation and buy-in and higher
quality dialogue and decisions. In addition, many organizations have
discovered that Parallel Thinking techniques improve communication
in both cross functional and multi-cultural environments;
particularly useful in global organizations, enhancing merger
integration and other major change processes. Decision making and
meeting process cycle times can be reduced by up to 75% with the
appropriate application of this exciting technique.
We help
organizations implement Edward de Bono’s Six Thinking Hats as
the main vehicle to enable Parallel Thinking, having trained several
thousand managers and professionals around the world since 1994.
Course:
Parallel Thinking with the Six Thinking Hats
3.
Lateral Thinking: A set of tools
and structured techniques to methodically develop creative thinking
skills in order to develop truly innovative ideas and solutions.
Developed by Edward de Bono, these powerful techniques enable
individuals, teams and entire organizations to significantly improve
their ability to develop creative ideas for new product development,
process improvement, customer focus and a variety of applications.
While many creative
thinking practitioners are good at getting people excited about the
topic of creativity, very few actually provide structured tools to
improve the vital skill of idea generation capability. Lateral
Thinking tools are designed to address the asymmetric patterning
system of the brain – this patterning system, while quite useful in
every day life, is a major inhibitor of idea generation capability
for most people.
Lynn Reed
Associates have taught these techniques to several thousand managers
and professionals around the world in a variety of industries since
1994. Our experience includes teaching and application of these
tools and techniques – always focused on improving performance of
the organization.
Courses:
Lateral /
Creative Thinking Skills
and
The Innovation Experience: A Creative
Thinking Application Seminar
Lynn Reed was certified by Dr. de Bono personally in
both Six Thinking Hats and Lateral Thinking techniques. He has
achieved master trainer status in both instruments.
Advanced Business
Skills - A highly
intensive, four-day residential course designed to improve skills in the areas
of strategy development, critical thinking, problem solving, creative thinking, communications and
group dynamics. Action learning (application of program tools and techniques to
real business issues in real time) is a major part of the program design.
Target audience includes high potential managers - and future managers - at all
levels. Note: includes the full
Six Thinking Hats program and an introduction
to Lateral Thinking.
Parallel Thinking with the Six Thinking Hats -
A
one-day program in Edward de Bono’s Six Thinking Hats
designed to open the
door to creative thinking,
to help people become more open in their approach
to problem solving and to improve individual and group idea generating
capabilities. The program leads to the creation of a culture of creative
thinking across the organization, improvement in the quantity of ideas generated
and increased levels of participation, particularly in multi-cultural
environments. Appropriate for all levels of professional staff and management.
Includes an introduction to
two of de Bono's Lateral Thinking tools - Concept Extraction and
Random Entry.
Lateral / Creative Thinking
Skills -
A one or one and a half-day class
that introduces the foundation and theory behind the lateral thinking concepts
designed by Edward de Bono; these concepts are used to significantly improve
creative idea generating capabilities at the individual and team levels. The
basic (short) version covers Focus, Challenge, Random Entry, Concept Extraction,
Harvesting, Assessment and Treatment; the extended course also covers
Provocation – the most complex, yet powerful, of the Lateral Thinking Tools.
These techniques are frequently used to develop new product ideas, generate
ideas to improve organization performance, enhance retention of key employees
and improve productivity.
The Innovation Experience: A Creative Thinking Application Seminar
-
A three-day class that focuses on
developing a deeper understanding of the role and application of
creative thinking skills to improve organization performance.
Includes individual and team assessment of creative thinking
preferences using Herrmann Brain Dominance Instrument (HBDI*) and integrates the
Six Thinking
Hats and Lateral Thinking programs into a seminar
designed to build creative thinking skills and to address real
business issues. Can be tailored as a senior management
retreat for strategic planning, organization transformation, product
development, etc.
* The Herrmann Brain Dominance Instrument is based
on Ned Herrmann's creative brain theory and includes a
self-assessment instrument which helps to ascertain the individual's
preferences for using each of the four quadrants of the brain in
their approach to various thinking processes; the model is based on
the physiology of the brain.
Contact us
directly for more in-depth information on any of our programs or
services.
info@lynnreedassociates.com
USA 908-975-3362
