Hatitude
- 1. By Norman M. Schwab November 2012
- 2. Hat Experiences The concept of approaching life and tasks with different hats is refreshing and stimulating My experiences with different hats is reported from my mining industry background Using this concept in business is powerful, however the entire team needs to understand the concept Setting up rules that everyone abides by is critical to the success of this Hatitude above Aptitude! concept
- 3. Objective Hat The white helmet signifies seniority (management)on a mine and concurs with the data rational view Managers analyze past trends and use this to try predict outcomes White = Data = Right Managers that use creativity feel very constrained by this view The hat removes emotions and makes the wearer comfortable and secure when confronted
- 4. Negative Hat The black helmet depicts the unhappy worker and their point of view Workers represent resistance to Black = Resistance = Bad change and management often start planning from this perspective of their employees The weakness of a plan becomes clear when you see it from the workers point of view A plan that withstands this view is normally a strong, successful plan
- 5. Intuitive Hat The red helmet is associated with FIRE on a mine and is clearly emotional and wild A miner with a red helmet represents PASSION and action, which is what Red = Fire = Action! management require for high productivity The leadership represented here is necessary when facing hazardous challenges The intuitive view will generate creativity and unique results
- 6. Process Hat The blue hat is worn by the engineering staff that perform a “service” function on the mine The cool blue helmet on service personnel makes them neutral to the Blue = Peace = Cool production process The rational approach to maintenance signifies calm dispassionate reliability Structure is required for optimum results and calling on the views of others
- 7. Positive Hat The yellow helmets are normally construction workers and on a mine are the technical services people The eternal optimism of professionals Yellow = Bright = Solutions! point out “where the gold” is and expect the miners to extract this with ease The bright, sunny disposition can be infectious but can also leave realist people perplexed at first The optimistic view save the day!
- 8. Creative Hat The green helmets are rarely used on a mine (militaristic), where creativity is frowned upon A miner is uncomfortable outside the rules however once he is allowed to Green = Growth = Wild be creative, he is liberated and highly innovative The green movement has created many innovative approaches to environmentally friendly mining Thinking green is mining reframed which has re-engineered the mines
- 9. Conclusion Mining Engineering requires you to wear many hats to consider the conflicting requirements of men, machinery, rock, ventilation, water, electricity, communications, costs, markets, labor, housing, climate etc… this is a necessary skill for success The colored helmets on a mine define which level or shift you work on – much like the different view signified by the thinking hats I am most comfortable in a Yellow Hat as miners are eternal optimists I am least comfortable in a Black Hat as that negatively impacts the team and production