Week 6 Submission: Creative Teams Stanford University (Venture:ab): A Crash Course on Creativity

2. Each problem that we face has its own message and purpose to help us grow as a more
effective and efficient person.
Edward de Bono’s Six Thinking Hats can help us to take control of our thought processes
through a systematic implementation in search of an ideal solution to our problems or
circumstances.

3. The team (myself)
tried the different
hats and the
following are our
findings….

4. Results:
• Feel like ‘a seedling’
• Constant growing mind
• Unique, creative ideas and perspectives
• Almost like white hat but with open mind
• Almost opposite to black hat
• Rules are meant to be broken
• Reminds me of Tina Seelig’s lectures and approaches
Assessment:
• MOST COMFORTABLE WITH THIS HAT
• Like a seedling that sprouts from the ground and
grows persistently
• Expanding brains and thoughts in all directions
• Mind mapping and lateral thinking process
• The thoughts are not controlled by rules or
limitations
• Currently need this quality to succeed in my PhD
• Must at all costs avoid criticizing or judging the ideas
that it brings to mind
Questions to self:
• What alternative possibilities could exist here?
• Could this be done in another way?
• How can I look at this problem from a unique
perspective?
• How can I think outside the box about this?
• What if…?

5. Results:
• Feel like ‘the cat’
• Optimistic yet happy and a ‘can do’ attitude
• Welcoming and radiant attitude
• Curious and inquisitive mind
• Predefined ideas
Assessment:
• Very comfortable with this hat
• Constantly seeking ideas for solutions
• Positive behaviour and motivated to accomplish my
future tasks
• Tend to find any opportunities that are waiting to
be discovered
• Can produce an effective plan that will counteract,
minimize and eliminate these risks altogether.
Questions to self:
• How can I best approach this problem?
• How can I logically and realistically make this work?
• What positive outcomes could result from this
action?
• What are the long-term benefits of this action?

6. Results:
• Feel like ‘a detective’
• Reminds me of Mulder in The X-Files
• Searching for true facts and data only
• Thorough and neutral
• Try not to jump into conclusions too quickly
• What? Where? When? How?
Assessment:
• Quite comfortable with this hat
• Have this quality at certain times
• Slightly OCD behaviour
• Tend to find the truth rather than opinions
• Currently need this quality when writing my PhD
thesis
Questions to self:
• What do I know about this problem?
• What don’t I know about this problem?
• What can I learn from this problem?
• What more would I like to learn about this
problem?
• How will I go about acquiring the facts, stats and
data that will help me resolve this problem?
• What potential solutions exist based on the facts,
stats and data that I have collected?

7. Results:
• Feel like ‘the heart’
• Personal feelings, gut reactions and hunches
• Intuitive emotions
• Seeking to accomplish direct and indirect objectives
• Thorough and neutral
• Open minded and open to suggestions
Assessment:
• Comfortable with this hat
• Matches all my current personality and criteria
• Tend to change my judgements as time progresses
• May not be suitable for my PhD
• Tend to unveil my own weaknesses but also unveils
my hidden strengths and ideas
Questions to self:
• What is my gut telling me about this solution?
• What are my feelings telling me about the choice I
am about to make?
• Based on my feelings, is there a better way to go
about this?
• Intuitively, is this the right solution to this problem?

8. Results:
• Feel like ‘the director’
• Tend to sit back and manage ideas/other hats
• Seeking goals and deadlines
• Gather global perspectives: problems and solutions
• Time management
Assessment:
• Hoping to have this quality in future
• High aspiration and overlooking all the issues
• Not quite comfortable colour for now
• Needs to upgrade leadership and critical/creative
thinking to achieve this
• Leader of the other hats
Questions to self:
• What problem am I facing?
• How can I best define this problem?
• What is my goal and outcome?
• What do I seek to achieve by solving this problem?
• What is the most effective method of proceeding
from this position?
• How can I best organize and arrange my thinking to
help move me beyond my present circumstances?

9. Results:
• Feel like ‘the reaper’
• Pessimistic, negative thoughts, “can’t do” attitude
• Not necessarily good or evil, but rather to bring
forth scenarios
• Not really spiteful or destructive, but just-is what it
is
• Cautious, judgemental and critical
• How is this likely to fail?
Assessment:
• MOST UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THIS HAT
• Have a set of predefined objectives that seeks to
accomplish an objective
• There are always dark dangers and flaws in every
cosy and comfortable situations
• Had this quality when I was younger (probably
learnt from family)
• Just got rid of my negative energy in order to
succeed in my PhD after a few job redundancies
beforehand
Questions to self:
• What is the fatal flaw within this idea?
• What is the drawback to this way of thinking?
• How many ways is this likely to fail?
• What are the potential risks and consequences
associated with this?
• Do I have the necessary resources, skills and
support to pull this off?

10. Team creati-ethni:
1. Zulkeplee Othman
thank you