Six Thinking Hats is a creative method of individual or collective thinking developed by Edward de Bono. It is based on the principle of parallel thinking instead of argumentation and discussion used in traditional thinking.

Parallel thinking enables organizing the reflection in 6 different perspectives and each thinker presents his thoughts in parallel with others. Each perspective is symbolized with a hat of different color:

White hat is neutral. We focus on facts, numbers and all existing information. It is little bit like a computer thinking, we process data objectively. Understanding current situation helps us to define more precisely the problem we want to solve. The goal is to develop a mind-map combining available information as well as identifying missing facts to be found.

Red hat enables us to express feelings, emotions and intuition without the need of justifying them! This is always subjective and we speak for ourselves. We can express anger, fear, suspicion, jealousy, or love. The aim is to express our feelings (usually hidden) apart the reasonable thinking and take them as important factor as all the others.

Black hat means prudence and prevents us doing illegal, dangerous, or non-profitable things. We talk about potential risks, critic or past errors. Reflection is always logic and brings attention to the source of possible danger.  The objective is to evaluate risks, express criticism at one given time (not during the whole meeting!) even about our own ideas and proposals.

Yellow hat focus on advantages and value we can create. This positive reflection is based on logic and judgement. We are looking into the future and think of arguments supporting the positive side of all ideas, not only ours. We think of the best-case scenario and identify conditions to be fulfilled. The objective is to apply constructive thinking and look for proposals to bring improvements.

Green hat opens our creativity that is not anymore reserved only for creative people! We create new ideas, possibilities and new ways of looking at things. Creativity implies provocation and discovery of new venues by using association, combination, analogy, inversion or negation of usual concepts. The objective is to develop original solutions on existing problems.

Blue hat organize the way of thinking we apply. It helps us to define precise objectives of the meeting and summarize regularly agreed steps and learning points. The objective is to review the big picture of the topic discussed, facilitate the flow of the meeting and draw final conclusions of the meeting.

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Key benefits of 6 Thinking Hats:
No argumentation or fight of egos, all participants are thinking in the same perspective.
Developed concepts and solutions are solid, well defined and evident to all.
Introduction of the behaviour change (e.g. negative people think positive).
Simplicity and time saving, as we don’t mix facts with feelings, advantages with risks, etc.
Creativity now takes part in all discussions or decision-making processes.

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Warning:
Hats are NOT different categories of personalities (one person playing positive guy, another negative or creative one)! All participants wear all hats at given point of time and reflect in parallel (all think about facts, then all express feelings or analyse risks together).

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Can you imagine thefts using 6 Thinking Hats method when planning a robbery? We can! Read this scenario and tell us which hat was used in the different parts of discussion:

Boss (the boss), Big (combat & explosives), Tony (security systems) and Julie (commercial deals) meet in the empty bar after midnight. They are planning the last big job.

Boss: “We are going to discuss highly lucrative and dangerous proposition, define our tactical plan and assign responsibilities.” (1. ……….. hat)

Boss: “Hope you have done your homework! Tell me all you know.”

Julie: “Diamond City celebrates 100^th anniversary next week. 200 people are invited for the ball of masks in the city hall where the biggest diamond in the world is exposed. We can sell the diamond for 4 Million USD!”

Big: “Yeah, Saturday is the BIG night!”

Tony: “Diamond is situated in the middle of the central hall on the footstall. It is protected by invisible laser cage and watched by 10 different cameras. 4 guardians will be placed around the footstall during the ball.” (2. …… hat)

Big: “Boss, I am not sure this is good idea! I am afraid of the consequences.”

Julie: “I am so excited! Imagine 1 Million dollars only for you.”

Boss: “Guys, this is our last job together. I feel good about it! What about you Tony?”

Tony: “My 6^th sense tells me – go for it!” (3. …………. hat)

Boss: “The good news is that we have already the exact copy of the diamond.”

Big: “And I was hired as one of guards protecting the diamond during the ball!”

Julie: “I found the buyer. It is an American diamond merchant who is expecting our answer tonight.”

Tony: “We will exchange the real diamond with a copy during the electricity cut that I can initiate. I know their security systems very well!”  (4. …………… hat)

Boss: “Good, we know the role of Tony and Big. Any obstacles we should talk about? (5. …….. hat)

Big: “There is a group of guys planning to steel the same diamond. We need to get ahead of them!”

Tony: “Are we enough for such a job?!”

Julie: “Ball of masks? I have no dress to wear!!!” (6. ………… hat)

Tony: “OK guys. Let’s calm down. We know the risks, what about the solutions?”  (7. ………. hat)

Boss: “The other group will be at the ball as well. We will use them for our plan. Tony, you will provoke the fight with one of them on my signal! Julie, you will be close to the diamond. Big, you will install the chip on the footstall and I will activate the electricity cut.”

Julie: “Once the laser will be off as well as security cameras, I have 30 seconds to exchange the diamond while all attention is given to fighting guys. I will be pregnant lady and my artificial belly will be the hiding place for the diamond.”

Big: “If the alarm starts ringing, Julie will put the fake diamond in the pocket of one of the guests and scream ‘He took the diamond, I saw him!’ and we walk out as soon as guards jump on him.” (8. ………… hat)

Boss: “Good job guys! This is pretty solid plan, don’t you think? Julie, tell the buyer we accept the job and we meet again tomorrow to work out the details” (9. …………… hat)

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Do you know already the correct answers? If yes, let us know. This method is easy but requires some practice. 6 Thinking Hats can be used effectively during the staff meetings, planning sessions or decision-making. You can do it in the group or individually