The Six Thinking Hats
The Six Thinking Hats are used by individuals and groups to separate out conflicting styles of thinking. They enable and encourage a group of people to think constructively together in exploring and implementing change, rather than using argument to fight over who is right and who is wrong.
Kate
MikeGoal
Create, explore and develop ideas constructively.
Attachments
Instructions
Blue Hat:
Thinking about and managing the thinking process
The blue hat is the control hat. It is used for thinking about thinking. The blue hat sets the agenda, focus and sequence of hats, ensures the guidelines are observed and asks for summaries, conclusions, decisions and plans action.
Green Hat:
Generating ideas
The green hat is for creative thinking and generating new ideas, alternatives, possibilities and new concepts.
Red Hat:
Intuition and feelings
The red hat is about feelings, intuitions and instincts. The red hat invites feelings without justification.
Yellow Hat:
Benefits and values
The yellow hat is for a positive view of things. It looks for the benefits and values.
Black or Grey Hat:
Caution
The black or grey hat identifies risk. It is used for critical judgment and must give the logical reasons for concerns. It is one of the most powerful hats.
White Hat:
Information
The white hat is all about information. What information you have, what information you need and where to get it.
Important points to note
The hats can be used on your own or in a group.
In group discussions, it is essential that everyone uses the same hat (mode of thinking) at the same time. This is to avoid personal preferences and conflicts between modes of thinking.
The black hat is powerful and essential. It is a necessary part of thinking but often overused.
We respect that colours have different cultural contexts. For example, in China wearing a green hat signifies an unfaithful spouse. While it would undervalue the black hat to assume it is a bad hat, we respect that you may prefer to use grey to indicate risk assessment. You may change the colours of the hats if you wish. For the method to be effective, it is important that there are six distinct modes of thinking and that everyone has a common language to communicate these.
Training in the use of the hats includes how to structure the hats into sequences to address different situations. This provides a structure and direction for the thinking, leading to more productive and enjoyable discussions.
Background
This summary was reproduced with permission from de Bono. The Six Thinking Hats
were created by Dr. Edward de Bono and have been adopted in training programs
by organisations around the world since 1991. The de Bono network includes
accredited trainers and facilitators in 72 countries through 18 training
partners who act as Authorised Distributors. We provide in person and
virtual training and facilitation, supported by interactive digital courses and
applications, to help you apply the methods to topics that are important to
you. Please contact us https://www.debono.com/authorised-distributors.
The Six Thinking Hats is a registered trademark. Copyright Edward de Bono Ltd 2021.
Comments (2)
I agree with the point about changing the colours based on cultural context. I have encountered concerns about the Black Hat being used to symbolize the negative perspective.
This has become one of my key references for decision-making as it helps individuals and groups to make sound decisions by allowing all perpectives to be considered.