Six Thinking Hats

From the part to the wholeFrom the different/unique to the

commonFrom analysis to synthesis

Six Thinking Hats

Parallel thinkingmastermind

Six Thinking Hats

“The six thinking hats allow us to conduct our thinking as a conductor

might lead an orchestra.”-- Edward de Bono

TEACHING THINKING SKILLS

To be used with 3 year olds All ages

All business peopleTo involve communities in projects

The tool to

Go beyond confusionHelp gifted children become brighter

Help not that gifted children improve and fly

FROMSOCRATES: DIALECT

PLATO: TRUTHARISTOTLE: ARGUMENT

TO CREATIVE PARALLEL THINKINGCo-operation

Blue HatThink Blue Sky

The conductor of the orchestra

The big organizer

Blue Hat – Organizing the Thinking Process

When you wear the blue hat, your task is to define the situation,

set the parameters, decide how you will proceed with the other hats

(which ones to wear, and in which order), andcontrol the process until a satisfactory resolution is

reached. Thus, the blue hat is generally the first and the last to

be worn.

FOCUS + PURPOSEWhat are we here for?

What are we thinking about?What is the end goal?

What sequence of hats are we going to use?

What have we achieved?

White Hat INFORMATION

in parallel

White Hat – Objective Facts and FiguresWhat do we know?

What do we need to know?What is missing?

What questions do we need to knowHow might we get the information

we need?

If information conflicts… All information is put alongside, then

gets checked

RED HAT:Fire and warmEMOTIONS, FEELINGS, INTUITION

I do not like this idea at allMy feeling is that this simply will not work

My intuition is that it will be disastrousI feel it is a waste of time

+ ^ -Not obliged to say why you feel what

you feel

BLACK HATCRITICAL THINKING

careful!Risk assessment

BLACK HAT:It points out:

dangers, faults, problemsDoes this fit our values?

Does this fit our resources?Does this fit our strategy and

objectives?Does this fit our abilities?

To indicate a fault in logicTo point out incorrect informationTo point out faults and weaknesses

To point out why something does not fitTo point out the “downside”

To point out potential problems

NOT OVERUSE

YELLOW HAT:VALUE SENSITIVITY

THE LOGICAL POSITIVEValues, Benefits,

That’s why it should work!

OptimismThe glass is half full!

see the unseen beauty!

YELLOW HAT:VALUE SENSITIVITY:

GREEN HAT: THE INVITATION TO

CREATIVITYBe Creative or

Be Quiet

NEW IDEAS, ALTERNATIVES, POSSIBILITIES,

DESIGNS, HYPOTHESIS

(PRESOCRATICS)VISIONS

The balance of neurotransmittersfrom ego behavior to a co-operative,

constructive thinkerEasy to teach- easy to learn

A symbology for swift in thinkingImpersonal

Strongfast

All wear the same hat Everyone is looking at the same

directionWe do not change the person/

behaviorUSE: occasional use of a hat for a

specific subjectSystematic: all hats in sequence (Time management if needed)

When using the hats systematically: Pre-set approach of sequence

Evolving: you choose the next hat after you have finished with the

previous oneSTART with the BLUE HAT

THE DECISION has been made by itself

It is self-evident

In assessmentYellow> Black> Green