Six Thinking Hats Method to make Better Choices
What are the Six Thinking Hats?
The Six Thinking Hats is a method or technique introduced by Edward de Bono that helps individuals and groups think more effectively and collaboratively. Each hat represents a different style of thinking, enabling participants to approach problems, decisions, or discussions from various perspectives.
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Worksheet for 6 Thinking Hats
How to use the Six Thinking Hats?
To use the Six Thinking Hats method, participants metaphorically "wear" different colored hats, each corresponding to a specific type of thinking:
For more information on a Hat click on it :
- White Hat: Focuses on facts, data, and information.
- Red Hat: Focuses on emotions, feelings, and intuitions.
- Black Hat: Focuses on critical thinking, risks, and potential problems.
- Yellow Hat: Focuses on optimism, benefits, and positive aspects.
- Green Hat: Focuses on creativity, new ideas, and alternative solutions.
- Blue Hat: Focuses on process control, organization of thinking, and managing the thinking process itself.
Sample Questions for Each Hat
- White Hat: What information do we have? What are the facts?
- Red Hat: How do I feel about this? What are my intuitions?
- Black Hat: What could go wrong? What are the risks?
- Yellow Hat: What are the benefits? How can this be advantageous?
- Green Hat: What new ideas can we generate? How can we think creatively?
- Blue Hat: What are the goals for this session? How should we manage our time?
Where to use the Six Thinking Hats?
The Six Thinking Hats method can be used in various contexts:
- In meetings and brainstorming sessions to explore ideas and make decisions.
- In problem-solving processes to analyze issues from different angles.
- In planning sessions to develop strategies and consider all factors.
- In personal, professional or business decision-making to weigh options and assess consequences.
Suggestd order of Hats when using the Six Thinking Hats
The Six Thinking Hats can be used throughout different stages of a decision-making or problem-solving process:
- Start with the Blue Hat to set objectives and guidelines.
- Use the White Hat to gather facts and information.
- Follow with Red Hat to express emotions and intuitions.
- Employ Black Hat to identify risks and potential problems.
- Apply Yellow Hat to explore benefits and positive aspects.
- Finish with Green Hat to brainstorm creative solutions and alternatives.
Why (not) to use the Six Thinking Hats? Strengths / Weaknesses.
Strengths:
- Promotes structured and systematic thinking.
- Encourages balanced consideration of different perspectives.
- Fosters creativity, innovation, and effective decision-making.
Weaknesses:
- May require time and practice to effectively implement.
- Could limit spontaneous and intuitive responses.
- May overlook the complexity of real-world issues if used rigidly.
