White and Red hats

The readings from the Six Thinking Hats  by Edward de Bono made the idea a bit more clear for me.  I enjoyed reading the white hat chapter because it was rather easy to understand, it is concerned with the facts.  The idea of a person imitating a computer helped create a picture in that is just gives us information and facts, it never gives us an opinion. The white hat is solely responsible for receiving the information. It seems like it is the basis for everything that takes place. 

Turning in the opposite direction, we see the red hat.  I would argue this hat is used a lot with people in displaying their feelings or emotions within a topic.  I think many people focus more on their feelings and their thoughts than on the benefit to the group as a whole. I see myself as a person who wants to avoid conflict in which I will "sugar coat" things to avoid revealing my true feelings.  However, with opportunities to present my feelings, I am becoming better at sharing those ideas and feelings with others.

In addition, I did take a few things out of reading Creating Effective Groups by Randy Fujishin.  First, the idea of using "I" statements or messages is important as it is intended to communicate clear messages.  Through our guidance program, students are taught how to use "I" messages to let others know about how they are feeling.  It is valuable to be able to communicate one's feelings with others in a way that they can clearly understand. 

I could totally make a connection when I read about roles that prevent clear communication.  I find myself falling in the "pleaser" and sometimes the "ghost" roles in  communication.  In some of the groups I have been involved with, we have not accomplished as much as we would have liked to because we have had some controllers, blamers, pleasers, distractors, and ghosts.  As I reflect and look back at the times I have felt like I ghost, many times is was due to the fact I had no beliefs or feelings on the matter and that I had no clue in regards to the topics.  As a result, I am responsible for times when there was not clear communication.