Everything is a mixed bag in life!
Nothing can ever be ‘all good’ or ‘all bad’.
Over the past 40 years of teaching higher order critical thinking skills we have seen that one of the most useful SOT thinking algorithms is the GBB.
When you do a GBB you deliberately judge the Good, the Bad and then you go even further to discern what could be Better.
G = GOOD. The good things about an idea why you like it.
B = BAD. The bad things about an idea why you don’t like it.
B = BETTER. What could be much better about an idea.
Everyone agrees that we should all be more broad-minded, more tolerant, more thoughtful, considerate, and more creative. Why don’t people THINK? How often have you heard that question?
It is easy to say to someone, “Why don’t you be more broad-minded?” But it is not so easy to actually do it. This is because it is impossible to focus attention on general attitudes like the ones mentioned above. They sound great as slogans and battle cries but have proved to be of little value as operating tools which can actually be practised and used.
However, a GBB is specific. It is possible to ask someone to “Do a GBB on this.” The thought-leader then takes pride in the skill of being able to deliberately see the Good, Bad and Better points in the situation.
DO A GBB!
Instead of just saying that you like an idea, or you don’t like it, you can use a GBB.
When you use a GBB, you give the good points, the bad points, and also the points which are neither good nor bad but are much better.
You can use a GBB as a way of managing ideas, suggestions, and proposals.
You can ask someone else to do a GBB, or you can be asked to do one yourself.
DFQ #19:
Do a GBB!Tomorrow is the last lesson in this 30-day leadership pipeline so today is a chance to reflect on your journey so far. Do a GBB on this month’s training!
• List 3 GOOD things.
• List 3 BAD things.
• List 3 things that could be BETTER.Post your GBB below:
Good
The CVS to BVS concept makes you think positively
The use of repetition as a means reinforce concepts
The Blog style format allows participation anytime, anywhere
Bad
Too many acronyms
Open forum inhibits open and candid comments
Emails can back up especially over holiday periods
Better
Decrease the number of acronyms
Improved confidentiality
More direct input from Michael
Good
1. Content challenged thinking, reflection and self awareness
2. Discipline in providing quality, considered responses as they may be read by others.
3. PTO – we must accept that sometimes we just need to “do as we are asked”
Bad
1. Flow of the training was interrupted by leave and Christmas etc
2. Lack of feedback and discussion
3. Examples were not relevant to my work or life experiences
Better
1. I found it better for me to do a few of these in a block, even though the initial challenge was to do it every day. It suited my style to devote more time to get into the groove.
2. I get the sense that the training could do with a refresh, and some contemporary examples.
3. So what happens now?
Good
1. Formalising concepts – much of what was presented is regularly used, at least by me, and no doubt others, but not with the deliberate intent demonstrated here.
2. The discipline of undertaking the set tasks, even when they are not sympathetic.
3. Not sure that I have a third at this point.
Bad
1. The war references are uncongenial and business references are meaningless to those not in business.
2. The strengths test is questionable; it may say things about the self perceptions of the student, I suppose. The point of having to dig out personal anecdotes was not clearly made but see good point 2.
3. Use of acronyms is a personal dislike – “do a GBB” “PTO on this”. Jargon, exclusionary and eventually obscures the meaning of the exercise.
Better
1. Make the point of each exercise clearer.
2. Review and refresh the introductory material.
3. The fact that my colleagues can read my responses if they wish does not bother me, but it may limit the input of some people. Perhaps grouping students would be helpful.
Good
1. chance for self-reflection every day
2. chance to follow selected ‘blogs’ of others
3. the discipline of writing reflections down where you know others will read
Bad
1. the dreaded email in the middle of a busy morning
2. the ones that pile up whenm you are away from the computer
3. having to keep answers clear of recognisable references
Better
1. need to keep my answers shorter and crisper
2. more breathing space between emails
3. perhaps more confidentiality?
GOOD …. I learned well from….
1. The stories of others.
2 The sharing of others’ strengths .
3.The repetition of building upon identified strengths.
BAD
Recognising the problems I have.
BETTER
My understanding of6 CAP principles in training.
my application of QRH PRR
My appreciation of SDNT and Cvs to BVS
GOOD – More control of own thinking. Stop and pause before react.
– Understand other people better. Look from their point of view and situation.
– Increase ideas sharing and welcome more discussions.
BAD – Feel frequently analize own and other people ideas and actions.
– Spend more time explore ideas and information.
– Delay decision making and actions (some times).
BETTER – Review the feedback Vs. the learning.
– Practice more often to think faster and more systematic.
– Share my learning with my team, friends and family.
GOOD things
CVs to BVs was a splendid idea
Promoting practice repetition rehearsal was a very good idea
School of Learning, by promoting lateral thinking and progressive thinking is a gift to the world
Bad things
The School of Thinking must allow its students to convey their messages FREELY without CONTROL
I should open up more to negative people
I should learn to be a good listener
Could be Better
School of Learning should extend and encourage politicians to take these courses as they are the people who influence the world
I should do more to spread this concept around the world
School of Thinking should be less regimented
Good:
CVS2BVS has been a useful, simple tool
Generally escaping from the CVS to explore other ideas has been really positive
Have had an opportunity to discuss elements of the course with colleagues.
Bad:
I have been inconsistent with responses
Am able to use other people’s postings as inspiration when am stuck on a response – is that bad?
Reading some of the negatives responses from people
Better:
If had option to complete a response privately, without posting – and still move through the course
A reference for the future would be good – the lessons and my responses to them. Be interesting to see changes in say, a years time.
Good
Learning to think using different methods.
Finding out a little more about my colleagues.
No time constraint to do the course.
Bad
Reading peoples unproductive comments. It made me depressed to think people can be so negative.
Because time didn’t permit me to do the course quicker I often had to read back over the last lessons to get my head around things again and therefore get in the right mind frame.
I noted a particular employee basically copied anothers persons words…tsk tsk.
Could Be Better
Lessons only sent when the previous one had been completed.
A quick reference page listing previous lessons titles.
An easier way to tell what lesson I was up to.
Good
Seeing from others postings that my ideas are similar
Forcing me to take the time to think
Some useful skills
Bad
Missed a few days, suddenly the backlog is huge and I fell behind
Some of the concepts aren’t really applicable
Automated process doesn’t allow for feedback or interaction
Could be Better
Feedback/interaction with trainer
Stop the flow of questions if there’s been no answer to one or two and then start again once they have been answered
More relevant concepts/examples for a non-rote environment