00:00Welcome to Unified Consulting Solutions, or UCS, where we simplify complexity and amplify performance.
00:07Now today we're going to dive into a powerful method to upgrade your most fundamental skill, thinking.
00:12And let me ask you a question, what if the very way you were taught to think is actually holding you back?
00:18We're going to explore the groundbreaking work of one of the world's leading authorities on this, Dr. Edward DeBono.
00:24So, let's get right into this journey into the mind.
00:27Okay, here's our game plan for today. We'll start with the big why. Why should we even bother learning to think better?
00:34Then, we'll uncover a huge trap in how we're all educated.
00:38From there, I'll introduce you to a really powerful new framework.
00:41We'll break it down stage by stage, and I'll show you exactly how to put it into action.
00:46Look, our goal here is simple. We want to hand you a practical toolkit for better thinking.
00:51By the time we're done here, you'll have a clear, structured model that you can apply to any challenge you face.
00:57Let's get started.
00:59All right, so first things first. Why should we spend any time learning something we do all day, every single day?
01:05I mean, it seems as natural as breathing, doesn't it?
01:08Well, DeBono's answer is direct, and it's really profound.
01:12He argues that thinking isn't just some academic thing.
01:14No, it's the operational skill we use for everything.
01:18To solve problems, to create opportunities, to design our lives.
01:22He has this great image. Without it, we're just like a cork floating on a stream with absolutely no control.
01:28Okay, but if thinking is that important, is the way we've been taught actually good enough?
01:33DeBono argues that our traditional thinking habits, while they're excellent in some ways, are completely inadequate for the modern world.
01:39And he traces this all the way back to three key figures from ancient Greece.
01:44First up, we've got Socrates. He gave us the power of argument, right?
01:48A method designed to attack and find flaws.
01:50And this has left us with an obsession for criticism.
01:53We often focus way more on finding what's wrong with an idea, instead of building on what could be right.
01:57Then came his student, Plato.
02:01He's the one who gave us this powerful drive to search for the ultimate truth.
02:05Now, that's a noble goal, of course, but it can sometimes limit us from exploring what's possible, because we're so fixated on what's provably true.
02:13And finally, Aristotle completed this trio.
02:17He gave us this powerful system of logic that's all based on classification and judgment.
02:22You know how it is.
02:23We see something new, and our first instinct is to judge it and fit it into a neat little box based on what we've seen before.
02:29So this traditional system, based on analysis, argument, and judgment, it's great for a stable world.
02:36But DeBono warns it's just not enough for a world that's always changing.
02:40It lacks constructive, creative energy.
02:42It's great for describing what is, but pretty terrible for designing what could be.
02:47So if that old system is incomplete, what's the alternative?
02:51Well, this is where DeBono proposes a new practical framework, a deliberate step-by-step process for the actual operation of thinking.
03:00He asks us to visualize thinking as a structured process.
03:05Just imagine, you put your intention to think about something in at the top.
03:08It goes through this deliberate sequence, and then the results of your thinking come out at the bottom.
03:14And this is the core of it all.
03:16A simple, really memorable five-stage model.
03:19T-O-L-O-P-O-S-O-GO.
03:23Each one of these represents a distinct phase of thinking, and this is the map we're going to follow.
03:28So let's walk through each of these five stages.
03:32We'll look at the purpose of each one so you can see exactly how you can apply this model for yourself.
03:38We always begin with two.
03:40Now, before you do anything else, you have to define your purpose.
03:43Where do you want to go to?
03:44What is the precise target?
03:46What do you want to end up with?
03:47DeBono insists this is a step people either do very badly or worse.
03:50They just skip it entirely.
03:51To do this stage right, you have to be deliberate.
03:55Define your purpose.
03:56Then try redefining it in different words.
03:58Explore some completely different definitions.
04:00If your goal is huge, break it down into smaller pieces.
04:04And maybe the most important thing?
04:05Be willing to change that purpose as you learn more.
04:09And this is where the power of definition really shines.
04:12Take this classic example of people complaining about slow elevators in a building.
04:16If you define the problem as the lifts are slow, the solution is expensive engineering.
04:21But what if you redefine the problem as people are complaining about the weight?
04:25All of a sudden, new solutions appear.
04:28Like putting up mirrors in the lobby so people get distracted.
04:31You see?
04:32The definition changes everything.
04:34Next up is low.
04:36This is the information stage.
04:38Here, you just look around in every direction.
04:41What are the facts?
04:42What are the figures?
04:43What do we know for sure?
04:45What information is missing?
04:47What are all the different perceptions and points of view?
04:49You're essentially creating a map of the territory.
04:53Poe is where the creativity really kicks in.
04:56This is the possibility stage.
04:58Poe is actually a term de bono invented, just to signal a provocative, creative idea.
05:03Here, we just generate options, hypotheses, alternatives, without any judgment.
05:08The goal is to create, not to criticize.
05:10Then, we move to SO, the outcome.
05:15This is where we bring back those traditional thinking skills of judgment and analysis.
05:20We take all those possibilities we generated in the PO stage, and we start to narrow them down,
05:25evaluate them, and choose the one that best fits our TO purpose.
05:29And finally, we have go.
05:32You know, thinking is completely useless without action.
05:35So, this final stage is all about the concrete next steps.
05:40What follows from your conclusion?
05:42What are you going to do about it, starting right now?
05:45And that's the full framework.
05:47You see, it's not just a random collection of steps.
05:50It's a deliberate process that guides your thinking from your initial purpose all the way to your final action.
05:56So, we've gone from the limitations of ancient Greek logic all the way to a modern practical framework for thinking.
06:24Let's just lock in the key takeaways.
06:27You can now clearly see the trap of purely critical thinking, and you're equipped with a powerful five-stage alternative.
06:34You have a practical tool, TLO PO SO GO, to move from abstract thought to concrete action in any challenge you face.
06:42We really hope this explainer from Unified Consulting Solutions, prepared by Dr. Mary Muthouquet, has been valuable for you.
06:49Our goal is always to provide you with clear, actionable frameworks that you can use to amplify your own performance.
06:56And hey, the learning doesn't have to stop here.
06:59To continue this conversation and connect with a community of like-minded thinkers and professionals,
07:04please join our UCS LinkedIn community.
07:06The link is right there in the description below.
07:08We would love to see you there.
07:09For anyone who wants to go deeper, everything we've discussed comes from this foundational book by Dr. Edward de Bono.
07:16I highly, highly recommend it.
07:18So, I'll leave you with a final question.
07:20What problem will you choose to think about differently starting today?
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