Gary DichtenbergCyberSkills, Inc.

Creative Problem Solving with

Six Thinking Hats

How to use Edward deBono’sparallel thinking in problem solving

Paul Reali • CyberSkills, Inc.

Goals of this program

Define parallel thinkingIdentify each of the six hatsLearn how to ask a good questionApply six hats method to problem solving

Paul Reali • CyberSkills, Inc.

What is parallel thinking?

At any moment everyone is looking in the same direction.

Paul Reali • CyberSkills, Inc.

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

Paul Reali • CyberSkills, Inc.

Uses for Six Hats

Problem solving Strategic planningRunning meetingsMuch more

Paul Reali • CyberSkills, Inc.

Six colors…

White: neutral, objectiveRed: emotional, angryBlack: serious, somberYellow: sunny, positiveGreen: growth, fertilityBlue: cool, sky above

Paul Reali • CyberSkills, Inc.

…and six hats

White: objective facts & figuresRed: emotions & feelingsBlack: cautious & carefulYellow: hope, positive & speculativeGreen: creativity, ideas & lateral thinkingBlue: control & organization of thinking

Paul Reali • CyberSkills, Inc.

General hat issues

Direction, not description• Set out to think in a certain direction• “Let’s have some black hat thinking…”

Not categories of people• Not: “He’s 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

Paul Reali • CyberSkills, Inc.

Benefits of Six Thinking Hats

Provides a common languageExperience & intelligence of each person

(Diversity of thought)Use more of our brainsHelps people work against type, preferenceRemoval of ego (reduce confrontation)Save timeFocus (one thing at a time)Create, evaluate & implement action plans

Paul Reali • CyberSkills, Inc.

Using the hats

Use any hat, as often as neededSequence can be preset or evolvingNot necessary to use every hatTime under each hat: generally, shortRequires discipline from each person

• While using it, stay in the idiomAdds an element of play, play alongCan be used by individuals and groups

Paul Reali • CyberSkills, Inc.

The blue hat

Thinking about thinkingInstructions for thinkingThe organization of thinkingControl of the other hatsDiscipline and focus

Paul Reali • CyberSkills, Inc.

The blue hat role

Control of thinking & the processBegin & end session with blue hatFacilitator, session leader’s roleChoreography

• open, sequence, close• Focus: what should we be thinking about• Asking the right questions• Defining & clarifying the problem• Setting the thinking tasks

Paul Reali • CyberSkills, Inc.

Open with the blue hat…

Why we are herewhat we are thinking aboutdefinition of the situation or problemalternative definitionswhat we want to achievewhere we want to end upthe background to the thinkinga plan for the sequence of hats

Paul Reali • CyberSkills, Inc.

…and close with the blue hat

What we have achievedOutcomeConclusionDesignSolutionNext steps

Paul Reali • CyberSkills, Inc.

White Hat Thinking

Neutral, objective information Facts & figures Questions: what do we know, what don’t

we know, what do we need to know Excludes opinions, hunches, judgements Removes feelings & impressions Two tiers of facts

• Believed Facts• Checked Facts

Paul Reali • CyberSkills, Inc.

Red Hat Thinking

Emotions & feelings Hunches, intuitions, impressions Doesn’t have to be logical or consistent No justifications, reasons or basis All decisions are emotional in the end

Paul Reali • CyberSkills, Inc.

Yellow Hat Thinking

Positive & speculative Positive thinking, optimism, opportunity Benefits Best-case scenarios Exploration

Paul Reali • CyberSkills, Inc.

Green Hat Thinking

New ideas, concepts, perceptions Deliberate creation of new ideas Alternatives and more alternatives New approaches to problems Creative & lateral thinking

Paul Reali • CyberSkills, Inc.

Black Hat Thinking

Cautious and careful Logical negative – why it won’t work Critical judgement, pessimistic view Separates logical negative from emotional Focus on errors, evidence, conclusions Logical & truthful, but not necessarily fair

Paul Reali • CyberSkills, Inc.

Six hats summaryBlue: control & organization of thinking

White: objective facts & figures

Red: emotions & feelings

Yellow: hope, positive & speculative

Green: creativity, ideas & lateral thinking

Black: cautious & careful

Paul Reali • CyberSkills, Inc.

Asking the right question

We can’t get the right answer if we ask the wrong question

Crucial blue hat skillOne technique: five whys

Creative Problem Solving

Paul Reali • CyberSkills, Inc.

Paul Reali • CyberSkills, Inc.

“Traditional” CPS

Mess-findingData-findingProblem-findingIdea-findingSolution-findingAcceptance-finding

Paul Reali • CyberSkills, Inc.

Common idea-finding methods

BrainstormingMind MapsFree associationFreewritingIncubation

Paul Reali • CyberSkills, Inc.

Six hats & problem solving

A more deliberate process than CPSLike CPS, uses creativity (green hat)Unlike CPS, provides a mechanism for

evaluating ideas & making decisions

Paul Reali • CyberSkills, Inc.

Hypothetical problem solving program using the hats - 1

Blue hat• Organize the process

Red hat• Emotional issues & feelings

White hat• What do we know, need to know

Yellow hat• Proposals & suggestions; what ifs, why nots

Paul Reali • CyberSkills, Inc.

Blue hat• Focus on the areas that need new ideas

Green hat• Generate new ideas & concepts

Blue hat• Organize ideas & process for evaluation

White, yellow & green hats• Constructive thinking

Hypothetical problem solving program using the hats - 2

Paul Reali • CyberSkills, Inc.

Yellow hat• Positive assessment of viable alternatives

Black hat• Screening for impossible, unusable• Challenge the alternatives

Yellow & green hats• Overcome objections, correct faults, remove

weaknesses, solve problemsBlack hat

• Further scrutiny; point out risks, dangers

Hypothetical problem solving program using the hats - 3

Paul Reali • CyberSkills, Inc.

Blue hat• Overview of achievements so far• Organize choice of route

Red hat• Express feelings about the choices

Yellow & black hats• Looking for the best alternative

Blue hat• Strategy for implementation

Hypothetical problem solving program using the hats - 4

Paul Reali • CyberSkills, Inc.

Want to learn more? Workshops by Paul Reali

• CyberSkills, Inc.• 336.774.1411• www.cyberskills.com or www.omniskills.com• preali@cyberskills.com

Lateral Thinking, deBono’s Thinking Course, and other books by Edward deBono