6 Thinking Hats

Edward De Bono

Dr. Edward de Bono

The Originator

M.D., Ph.D., (philosophy, medicine & psychology), Rhodes scholar, worldknown expert in creative thinking. The 6 Thinking Hats is one such technique. World-renowned consultant to business, governments, schools and industry Author of 62 books in 40 languages Originator of Six Thinking Hats, Lateral Thinking and Direct Attention Thinking Tools

Results Around The World

Since 1993 over 200,000 trained

In use by many of the largest & most successful organizations worldwide

Works well in different cultures

Applies at all levels & across disciplines

The Basics

There are six different imaginary hats that you can put on or take off.
Think of the hats as thinking icons.

Each hat is a different color and represents a different type or mode of thinking.
We all wear the same hat (do the same type of thinking) at the same time. When we change hats - we change our thinking.
4

The main idea is to have the group only wear one hat at a time when considering a problem. The wearing of the hat is metaphorical. At any one time, everyone will wear the same colour, in other words, look at the problem at hand from only one perspective, the perspective indicated by the hat colour.

Thinking-The Ultimate Human Resource

We can always improve our thinking skills. Confused thinking arises from trying to do too much at once. We should emphasize what can be, not what is.

HOW WE THINK

Different ways of thinking: information logic emotions desires creativity We think in different ways simultaneously, often generating confusion Ex.: we look for a logical excuse for emotions

Objectives of Six Thinking Hats

Increase the constructive output from meetings and decrease meeting times Explore each situation or problem and generate alternatives that go beyond obvious solutions Half Black & Half White Car Use 'Parallel Thinking' techniques as a powerful alternative to Adversarial Thinking Removes the ego from the discussion process De Bono uses the thinking "hat" metaphor because of familiar expressions such as put on your thinking cap (hat)

Results of Six Hat Thinking

Decisions Seem to Make Themselves!

Two Main Purposes For Six Thinking Hats

Simplifies thinking by having to deal with one thing at a time.

Allows a switch in thinking without threatening ego.

What is parallel thinking?

At any moment everyone is looking in the same direction.

So the six hats are?

Six colors of hats for six types of thinking

Each hat identifies a type of thinking Hats are directions of thinking

Hats help a group use parallel thinking

You can put on and take off a hat

Six Thinking Hats

Six Hats Reduce Confusion The main difficulty with thinking is confusion We try to do too much at once. Emotions, information, logic, hope and creativity all crowd in on us. Why not try and do these different types of thinking one at a time Six Hat Think Parallel Everyone sees the same situation with a different perspective from everyone else In arguments we try to best each other Facts versus opinions Positive possibilities versus negative possibilities Unrealistic expectations versus practicalities

Uses for Six Hats

Problem solving Strategic planning Running meetings

Transformer of personality Removes ego Saves time Empowers organization

Six colors

White: neutral, objective Red: emotional, angry Black: serious, somber Yellow: sunny, positive Green: growth, fertility Blue: cool, sky above

and six hats

White: objective facts & figures Red: emotions & feelings Black: cautious & careful Yellow: hope, positive & speculative Green: creativity, ideas & lateral thinking Blue: control & organization of thinking

Problem Statement / Scenario

IT Manager identifies reduced productivity in his team

Few areas impacting productivity of the team

More working hours leading to fatigue Tight schedule and missed deadlines Difficulty in dealing with customer complaints All these areas are related to Work Load Pressure

Approach to Problem Solving

Approach:1 Identify solutions to each of the problem Approach:2 Identify problem based on facts

Analyze problem from various perspective

Generate ideas Come to a consensus by the entire team and select feasible solutions
Logically, Approach 2 is a better choice

A technique to adapt this approach is to use Six Thinking Hats

General hat issues

Direction, not description Set out to think in a certain direction Lets have some black hat thinking Not categories of people Not: Hes a black hat thinker. Everyone can and should use all the hats A constructive form of showing off Show off by being a better thinker Not destructive right vs. wrong argument Use in whole or in part

Benefits of Six Thinking Hats

Provides a common language Experience & intelligence of each person (Diversity of thought) Use more of our brains Helps people work against type, preference Removal of ego (reduce confrontation) Save time Focus (one thing at a time) Create, evaluate & implement action plans

Using the hats

Use any hat, as often as needed Sequence can be preset or evolving Not necessary to use every hat Time under each hat: generally, short Requires discipline from each person While using it, stay in the idiom Adds an element of play, play along Can be used by individuals and groups

Yellow Hat - Sunshine

What Black Hat : Reality Check

What Black Hat is Not: Negativity

Results

ABB multinational project discussions from thirty days down to two days IBM reduced meeting times by one quarter Australian Cricket Team recognized the role played by Six Thinking Hats in World Cup 2003 victory Venezuela has formally introduced de Bono's thinking methods into the school curriculum

Perspective about Six Thinking hats

Leading corporations where practice of 6 Hats Thinking was a run-away success:

IBM
Statoil ( Norway)

Siemens
Ford

McKinsey
Ericsson

Advantages of adopting Six Hats method thinking

Focused Thinking Emphasis on parallel thinking Symbolic role Transformer of personality Removes ego Saves time Empowers organization

How to Use the Hat

Single Use
Sequence Use Evolving Sequence Preset Sequence Group and Individual Individual in Group

Rules to be followed while using hats

Discipline
Direction not description Timing No fixed sequence to follow. Blue hat should always be used both at beginning and at end.

Single Hat and Sequence Use

The hats can be used singly at any point in thinking. In general, this is the major use. The hats are used as a convenience for directing thinking and for switching thinking. Simple sequences of two or three hats may be used together for a particular purpose. For example, the yellow hat followed by the black hat may be used to assess an idea. The black hat followed by the green hat may be used to improve a design. (All Weather bike)

Evaluation Sequence
To discover the positive aspects and negative aspects of an idea. You use the yellow hat before the black hat. You could follow up with the green hat (new ideas) and red hat (feelings) thinking. Examples: Consider positive and negative Not doing homework one night. Swapping toys with friends.

Caution Sequence
Looking critically at situations. You are first considering facts with the white hat. Then use the black hat to discover difficulties. This can be followed up with some blue hat or red hat thinking. Examples: consider the consequences Throwing most of your lunch in the bin everyday. Not letting someone know where you are going.

Design Sequence
Encourage students to create new ideas, products or improvements to existing designs. Use the blue, green and red hats. Example: use design sequence to create A better toothbrush Alternatives to homework.

Six Thinking Hats- Summary

50 40 30 20 10 0
20 15 1st Qtr 2nd Qtr

Emotional
Focused

Informative

Positive
Creative

Cautious

Spouse has left the job & plans to start a Pizza Franhisee

Spouse Starting a Pizza Franchise

Yellow Hat Quit your job and be your own boss Free pizza No commute Learn business principles Your spouse can work for you The franchise is affordable The equipment is new The location is in a good spot College is near by White Hat How profitable is a Smoking Joes franchise? How many pizza places are within five miles? How many people in the area eat pizza? What other kinds of places are there to eat near by? Average sale value? Black Hat Given our bank balance, can I really afford it? Do we have the appropriate credentials to get a loan? What is our POA if another food competitor moves in nearby?

Red Hat What is your gut feel about buying this franchise and why? How do I feel being a franchisee owner?

Green Hat Why Smoking Joes? How about another pizza place? How about a Dosa Diner franchise? Why buy a franchise, how about independent ownership? Why buy a restaurant, why not a health club?

Blue Hat Control the meeting, the rules, and the flow of ideas.

You see, all the right things are written in books and research papers. The trick is to ensure that there is no gap between what is written in the books and your vision; from what is happening on the shop-floor and what is going on in the marketplace.

That is execution. That is what makes the difference

Mukesh Ambani