Six Thinking Hats

Looking at a decision from all points of view
 


This strategy was created by Edward de Bono in his book '6 Thinking Hats'. Six Thinking Hats is a good technique for looking at the effects of a decision from a number of different points of view. We use this technique to look at decisions from a number of different and important perspectives. We use it also where we want to encourage further use of a range of thinking processes or to explore ideas when selecting which to take forward. This technique is also useful in cases we want to explore how people react when we try to implement our ideas.

If we look at a problem with the 'Six Thinking Hats' technique, we can solve it using all approaches, because our decisions and plans will mix ambition, skill in execution, sensitivity, creativity and good contingency planning. Plans developed using the '6 Thinking Hats' technique will be sounder and more resilient than would otherwise be the case.

 

How to use it

Each 'Thinking Hat' is a different style of thinking, so we can have the benefit of blocking the confrontations that happen when people with different thinking styles discuss the same problem.

 


 

 

Step by step...

 

 

1. Explain the hats

First of all we have to explain the meaning of the hats. It is very useful to have a little bit of practice first, to help our students get used to the idea and how to use them.

Hat

Headline

Usage

 

White

 

With this thinking hat you focus on the data available.

 

 

Information

 

 


 

 

Look at the information you have, and see what you can learn from it. Asking for information from others.

Black

 

With this thinking hat

You look at all the bad points of the decision.

 

Judgement

 

 


 

 

Playing devil's advocate. Try to see why a plan might not work and highlight the weak points in it.

Green

 

With this thinking hat you can develop creative solutions to a problem

 

Creativity

 

 

 

 

 

It is a freewheeling way of thinking, in which there is little criticism of ideas. You can develop creative solutions to a problem by offering possibilities, ideas.

Red

 

With this thinking hat you look at problems using intuition, gut reaction, and emotion.

 

 

Intuition

 

 


 

 

 

Try to think how other people will react emotionally, explaining hunches, feelings, gut senses.

Yellow

 

With this thinking hat you think positively

 

 

Optimism

 

 


 

 

See all the benefits of the decision and the value in it. Being positive, enthusiastic, supportive and keep going when everything looks gloomy and difficult.

Blue

 

With this thinking hat people chairing meetings

 

 

Thinking

 

 


 

 

 

This is the hat worn by people who stand for process control, using rationalism, logic, intellect. When contingency plans are needed, ask for Black Hat thinking.

2. Use the hats

n conversation, people now precede a comment that is using one of the six thinking styles by mentioning the hat. You can use the hats as model behaviour for them. For example, you could say, 'With the White Hat on, I'd like to ask …...' Don't over-do it by using them in every sentence; just in cases your students are not using the hats well enough.

Hats are useful metaphor: they go on your head (where you think), and to some extent act as a disguise.

An example:

I am thinking of buying a house. My job is doing well and my income seems stable. Looking at the problem with the White Hat, I analyze the data I have. I examine the offers for sale and the prices. It seems there are some bargains.
With the Red Hat thinking, some of the proposed houses look quite ugly.
With the Black Hat, I worry if I would be able to pay the mortgage for the house.
With the Yellow Hat, however, if the economy flourishes and property prices go up I will make a lot of money if I wish to sell my house in a few years.
With the Green Hat I consider whether I should change my plans and not buy the house.

 

The key characteristics of this technique are the following:

Quick



X



Long

 

Logical


X




Psychological

 

Individual





X

Group

 


As part of Annual eTwinning conference in Prague, we had the pleasure of listening to Edward de Bono speaking about his theories on creativity and thinking as a subject that can be taught in the classroom.

Do you want to learn more about it? Please visit the following web page...

http://etwinninguk.typepad.com/etwinning_uk/2009/02/changing-perceptions-de-bono-and-ethinking.html
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