Download - Six thinkinghats

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


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


Uses for Six Hats

Problem solving Strategic planningRunning meetingsMuch more


Six colors…

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


…and six hats

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


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


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


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


The blue hat

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


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


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


…and close with the blue hat

What we have achievedOutcomeConclusionDesignSolutionNext steps


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


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


Yellow Hat Thinking

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


Green Hat Thinking

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


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


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


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



“Traditional” CPS

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


Common idea-finding methods

BrainstormingMind MapsFree associationFreewritingIncubation


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


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


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



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



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



Want to learn more? Workshops by Paul Reali

• CyberSkills, Inc.• 336.774.1411• www.cyberskills.com or www.omniskills.com• [email protected]

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

Download - Six thinkinghats

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