SixThinkingHats

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…”
Paul Reali • CyberSkills, Inc.
Six hats summary
Blue: 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.
Open with the blue hat…
Why we are here what we are thinking about definition of the situation or problem alternative definitions what we want to achieve where we want to end up the background to the thinking a plan for the sequence of hats
Creative Problem Solving with
Six Thinking Hats
How to use Edward deBono’s parallel thinking in problem solving
Gary Dichtenberg CyberSkills, Inc.
Goals of this program
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
Paul Reali • CyberSkills, Inc.
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
Define parallel thinking Identify each of the six hats Learn how to ask a good question Apply six hats method to problem solving
Paul Reali • CyberSkills, Inc.
White: neutral, objective Red: emotional, angry Black: serious, somber Yellow: sunny, positive Green: growth, fertility Blue: cool, sky above
• While using it, stay in the idiom
Adds an element of play, play along Can be used by individuals and groups
Paul Reali • CyberSkills, Inc.
The blue hat
Paul Reali • CyberSkills, Inc.
Asking the right question
We can’t get the right answer if we ask the wrong question Crucial blue hat skill One technique: five whys
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
• 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.
Creative Problem Solving
Paul Reali • CyberSkills, Inc.
“Traditional” CPS
Mess-finding Data-finding Problem-finding Idea-finding Solution-finding Acceptance-finding
Paul Reali • CyberSkills, Inc.
Uses for Six Hats
Problem solving Strategic planning Running meetings Much more
Paul Reali • CyberSkills, Inc.
Six colors…
The blue hat role
Control of thinking & the process Begin & end session with blue hat Facilitator, session leader’s role Choreography
• • • • • open, sequence, close Focus: what should we be thinking about Asking the right questions Defining & clarifying the problem Setting the thinking tasks
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
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.
…and close with the blue hat
What we have achieved Outcome Conclusion Design Solution Next steps
Paul Reali • CyberSkills, Inc.
Thinking about thinking Instructions for thinking The organization of thinking Control of the other hats Discipline and focus
Paul Reali • CyberSkills, Inc.
Paul Reali • CyberSkills, Inc.

…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