Edward De Bono – Effective Thinking & CoRT Thinking

Edward De Bono – Effective Thinking & CoRT Thinking is a structured training built around a simple idea: thinking is a skill, and skills improve with tools and practice. If you often face overloaded decisions, messy meetings, unclear priorities, or problems that keep returning, this course gives you a practical way to think with more control.

Instead of relying on “being smart” in the moment, you learn repeatable approaches for perception, decision-making, and creativity. The goal is not to win arguments. The goal is to produce useful outcomes.

This is especially valuable when you need to act under pressure: when information is incomplete, opinions are loud, and time is limited.

What is the Edward De Bono – Effective Thinking & CoRT Thinking course about?

Edward De Bono – Effective Thinking & CoRT Thinking combines two connected ideas from Edward de Bono’s work: effective thinking as a learnable discipline, and CoRT (Cognitive Research Trust) thinking as a tool-based program for teaching thinking directly.

In the Effective Thinking part, the course is described as moving through three main modules: a first module focused on perception and thinking tools, a second module focused on different thinking situations, and a third module focused on creativity and lateral thinking. The emphasis is on applying tools, not just understanding concepts.

In the CoRT thinking approach, the “tools method” is central: each tool directs attention in a specific way, so you can broaden perception, organize thinking, handle interaction and argument, generate creative options, separate information from emotion, and move toward action.

What will you learn?

• How to slow down judgement and improve perception before you decide.
• How to think in a structured way when the “situation” changes, such as problem-solving, planning, evaluation, or design.
• How to generate alternatives on purpose using lateral thinking principles, instead of waiting for inspiration.
• How to use practical CoRT tools to expand options, weigh consequences, and clarify priorities.
• How to separate facts, feelings, and assumptions so decisions are cleaner and conflicts reduce.
• How to move from discussion to implementation with clearer next steps and accountability.
• How to turn thinking into a visible process that teams can share, not a private “talent” inside one person’s head.
• How to practice thinking tools until they become fast, natural habits under stress.

Who is it for?

This course fits learners who want better outcomes from their thinking, not just “more knowledge.” It is especially relevant for:

• Managers and team leads who want stronger decisions, clearer priorities, and calmer meetings.
• Entrepreneurs and operators who must solve problems quickly and design workable plans.
• Educators and trainers who want a teachable method for thinking skills and classroom discussion.
• Consultants and facilitators who need structured tools for workshops, strategy, and collaboration.
• Students and professionals who want a practical framework for problem-solving and creative work.

How does it work?

The most effective way to use Edward De Bono – Effective Thinking & CoRT Thinking is to treat it like a gym for your mind: learn one tool, apply it to a real situation, then repeat until it becomes automatic.

A simple practice loop looks like this:

• Choose a real challenge: a decision, conflict, plan, or recurring problem.
• Apply a tool: direct your attention with a specific thinking tool instead of “trying harder.”
• Capture outputs: write the options, consequences, priorities, and next steps.
• Review and refine: notice what improved and what needs another tool.

This approach is powerful in teams because it makes thinking visible. People can align on the process, not fight over personalities.

Benefits

• Better decisions because perception improves before evaluation.
• More options and fewer “false choices” when you intentionally generate alternatives.
• Cleaner meetings that move from talk to action with less repeated debate.
• Stronger problem-solving because you can switch tools based on the situation.
• More consistent creativity, using structured techniques instead of waiting for mood or luck.

Prerequisites

No formal prerequisites are required. The main requirement is willingness to practice. Thinking tools only become valuable when you apply them to real decisions, real plans, and real conversations.

About the author

Edward de Bono is widely known for developing structured methods for teaching thinking as a skill, including Lateral Thinking and the Six Thinking Hats approach. The de Bono organization exists to develop, promote, and protect his methods for learning and training in practical thinking.

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It also helps you stay consistent: your learning is organized in one place, so you can return whenever you need to prepare for a decision, design a plan, or run a structured thinking session with your team.

Course content

• Module 1: Thinking tools and perception to broaden perspective, consider factors, and improve judgement timing.
• Module 2: Thinking situations to match the right approach to the right type of thinking challenge.
• Module 3: Creativity and lateral thinking to generate alternatives and create new directions on purpose.
• CoRT thinking framework overview organized around six tool areas: Breadth, Organization, Interaction, Creativity, Information and Feeling, and Action.
• Examples of classic CoRT tools often taught within the Breadth and Creativity sections, such as PMI, Consider All Factors, Consequence & Sequel, Aims Goals Objectives, Alternatives Possibilities Choices, OPV, Random Input, Concept Challenge, and Stepping Stone.

Access the course now if you want a structured way to improve decisions, creativity, and practical outcomes—one tool at a time.

Downloadable Course Content