The Six Thinking Hats

(Edward de Bono)

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• ‘Six thinking hats’ is a method of thinking devised by Edward de Bono • The method works well in groups by helping them shift form their conventional way of thinking • The approach is collaborative rather than adversarial • Six hats is a metaphor that helps us to make sense of our thinking • Each hat represents a particular way of thinking • The concept is that we wear only one hat at any time in the thinking or discussion process Six thinking Hats by Edward de Bono, Penguin Books, 1985 www.trainer

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White hat

Information and Data

• Facts and figures only – no interpretations offered • Neutral and objective • What information is available?

• What information would we like to have?

• How are we going to get the missing information?

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Red Hat

How do I feel?

• Legitimises feelings and allows thinkers to express them • What are me feelings and emotions right now?

• What does my intuition tell me?

• What is my gut reaction?

• Justification of feelings and emotions not sought www.trainer

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Black Hat

• Issues and Concerns

• Concerned with negative and pessimistic assessment • Logical and objective approach called for (emotions and feelings should be confined to the red hat) • What could be the possible problems?

• What could some of the difficulties be?

• What are points of caution?

• What are the risks?

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Yellow Hat

Values and Benefits

• Positive and constructive • Logical and objective approach called for (emotions and feelings should be confined to the red hat) • What are the values of this idea?

• What are the good things about this?

• Action thinking www.trainer

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Creativity

Green Hat

• Looks for new ways of approaching and doing things • Aims beyond the known and the obvious and the merely acceptable • Are there other ways to do this?

• What else could we do here?

• What are the possibilities?

• What will overcome our difficulties?

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Blue Hat

Thinking about thinking

• Provides structure and orchestrates our thinking • What is our agenda?

• What is our next step?

• Which hat are we using now?

• Which hat should we be using now?

• How can we summarise the discussions so far?

• What is our decision?

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