Six Thinking Hats

1. Six Thinking Hats Anthea Carter-Savigear April 2011

2. Dr Edward de Bono • Dr de Bono is one of the few people in history to have had a major impact on the way we think • He is the Creator of what is now known as Lateral and Parallel Thinking • Parallel Thinking is when everyone is on the same page • A simple and practical way of carrying out “Parallel Thinking” is the Six Thinking Hats Approach • Our thinking changes according to the colour of the hats and to the given instructions 2

3. What is the Six Thinking Hats Approach? • Six Thinking Hats Approach is defined as a Thinking process where focus is split in specific directions • A method for doing one sort of thinking at a time • It promotes and separates thought processes into six distinct thinking modes 3

4. Thinking Hats and Coaching • Coaching is not about making a case for one position but looking at all the angles • It’s an Holistic way of coaching • Can be used with an individual to encourage “different perspective” thinking • Overall, the Six Hats Approach helps to reduce adversarial thinking and encourages clearer, more effective thinking and idea development 4

5. Rules • Only one hat at a time • = Focus Thinking • “Switching” hat • = Redirect Thinking • The colour of each hat • = Related to its function 5

6. How it Works? • “Put on” and “take off” a hat • – The colour gives direction • “Let’s have some black hat Thinking…” • – Not description or categories of people • Not: “He’s a black hat thinker.” 6

7. White Hat Thinking Objective Facts • Neutral and objective • Disciplined and directional • Factual • How will I get the information I need? Questions to ask in coaching: ‘What do you know?’ ‘What don’t you know?’ ‘What does this tell you?’ ‘Where are the gaps?’ Imagine a white piece of paper where you write all of the facts for … 7

8. Red Hat Thinking Feelings and Emotion: • “This is how I feel about the matter.” • Subjective • It is hunches, intuitions, impressions • No justifications, reasons or bias • Red hat legitimizes emotions and feelings as an important part of thinking Questions to ask in coaching: ‘How do you feel about?’ Imagine a Red heart for feelings and passion. Think of how you feel about … 8

9. Yellow Hat Thinking Positive, Hopeful and Speculative: • Positive and constructive • Positive thinking, optimistic • Opportunity covers a positive spectrum from logical to practical • Dreams, visions and hopes • Probes and explores for values and benefits • Best case scenario Questions to ask in coaching: ‘What are the benefits of…? What value dies this add?’ Imagine a yellow sun representing benefits of a sunny day! Think if the benefits of… 9

10. Black Hat Thinking Cautious and Careful: • Separates logic from emotion • Specifically concerned with negative assessment • Points out what is wrong, incorrect and in error • Logical negative –why it won’t work? • Critical judgement, pessimistic view • Focus on errors, past evidence • Negative assumptions • Points out risks and dangers Questions to ask in coaching: ‘What could prevent this working? What are the weaknesses? Imagine Black judge’s robe representing caution, wisdom! Think of what things you should be cautious of … 10

11. Green Hat Thinking Creative and New Ideas: • Creative Thinking • New ideas, concepts and perceptions • Change • Alternatives and more alternatives • New approaches to problems In coaching: The use of tools can be powerful Imagine Green grass for constantly creating new ideas. Think of something creative… 11

12. Blue Hat Thinking Focus, Control and Organisation of Thinking: • Ask the right questions • Define the issues • Set the Thinking tasks • Responsible for summaries, overviews and conclusions • Ensures the rules of the exercise • Observes and facilitates • The Blue Hat often starts and finishes the process Questions to ask in coaching: ‘What are the boundaries?’ ‘Where are the parameters?’ Imagine Blue sky for thinking from a new perspective, as if you were a bird in the air looking down at the earth Explain why… 12

13. In Conclusion • • Provides a common language • • Have an appreciation for the experience and • intelligence of each participant • • Diversity of thought • • Use more of our brains • • Helps people work against type and preferences • • Saves time • • Focus (one thing at a time) • • Creates, evaluates and implements action plans 13

14. When Using the Hats • • Use any hat, as often as needed • • Sequence can be pre-set or evolving • • Not necessary to use every hat • • Time under each hat: generally short • • Requires discipline from each person • • While using it, stay in the idiom • • Adds an element of play, play along • • Can be used by individuals and groups 14