Photo by Tony Crider
If you know how to use the Six Thinking Hats, you can deal with two very common problems.   The first problem is incomplete thinking.  The second problem is deadlocks in meetings.   I’ve been in way too many deadlock meetings that are absolute energy drains.  I’ve also seen too many ideas fail simply because they didn’t have enough perspective.  Once I discovered Six Thinking Hats, both scenarios became easy to solve.
More Complete Thinking  In the Six Thinking Hats, each hat represents a different perspective (facts, emotions, …

  Photo by ninjapoodles
Do you have a routine for getting into your best mindset?  Exceptional thinking is when you’re in the moment.  You’re fully focused on the task at hand.  You’re not practicing.  You’re performing.
If you have a routine, then you can consistently shift gears to get into your best mindset.  In Overachievement: The New Science of Working Less to Accomplish More , John Eliot, Ph.D. writes about using routines to consistently think your best when you need it most.      …

Photo by Kiwi-Wings
I sometimes catch myself analyzing my performance while I’m performing. This could be as simple as giving a presentation or as complex as influencing a room of stakeholders. I start to second guess myself. I’m no longer in the moment. I’m suddenly my worst critic at the wrong time. This is the Training Mindset. The Training Mindset is the right place to be when you’re practicing. It’s analytical, intentional, and calculating. It’s exactly the wrong place to be when you’re performing. Your best performance happens in …