Six Thinking Hats: Edward De Bono

I would like to suggest all of you to read this book. I also had recommended by the trainer of the programme I have been joined last year (2010). This book quite interesting in which Dr. de Bono invented the Six Thinking Hats method. The method is a framework for thinking and can incorporate lateral thinking. Valuable judgmental thinking has its place in the system but is not allowed to dominate as in normal thinking. 

Let's review some information of the Six thinking hats and I hope it's beneficial for you to think effectively after read this information:

Six Thinking Hats : Edward De Bono

Six Thinking Hats is a simple, effective parallel thinking process that helps people be more productive, focused, and mindfully involved. And once learned, the tools can be applied immediately!

You and your team members can learn how to separate thinking into six clear functions and roles. Each thinking role is identified with a colored symbolic "thinking hat." By mentally wearing and switching "hats," you can easily focus or redirect thoughts, the conversation, or the meeting.

	The White Hat calls for information known or needed. "The facts, just the facts."
	The Yellow Hat symbolizes brightness and optimism. Under this hat you explore the positives and probe for value and benefit.
	The Black Hat is judgment - the devil's advocate or why something may not work. Spot the difficulties and dangers; where things might go wrong. Probably the most powerful and useful of the Hats but a problem if overused.
	The Red Hat signifies feelings, hunches and intuition. When using this hat you can express emotions and feelings and share fears, likes, dislikes, loves, and hates.
	The Green Hat focuses on creativity; the possibilities, alternatives, and new ideas. It's an opportunity to express new concepts and new perceptions.
	The Blue Hat is used to manage the thinking process. It's the control mechanism that ensures the Six Thinking Hats® guidelines are observed.

Do you already understand used of the six thinking hats above? If not, here I get some example of Questions may ask by thinkers of the six thinking hats;

White hat thinking is about facts and figures. Like a computer, white hat thinking is cold.

Questions asked while wearing a white hat might include: What facts do we know about this subject? What is the background to this situation?

Red hat thinking is passionate, like fire. It expresses opinions, feelings, intuitions, desires and ideas, with no need to justify them.

Questions asked while wearing a red hat might include: What are your impressions of ...? What does your long‑range intuition tell you?

Yellow hat thinking is optimistic, like sunshine. It sees the advantages of even the wildest ideas.

Questions asked while wearing a yellow hat might include: What are the advantages of this situation or challenge? What ideal could be of benefit here? Let’s put on our yellow hats to bring out our wildest positive ideas about the situation or challenge.

Black hat thinking focuses on the negative. It see the risks, dangers, pitfalls and repercussions. The devil’s advocate wears a black hat.

Questions asked while wearing a black hat might include: What if if doesn’t work? What would be the downside? What are the potential risks? What would it cost even to try it?

Green hat thinking reflects in terms of the future; green is the colour of fertility and possibilities.

Questions asked while wearing a green hat might include:  What new solutions could be considered? What original ways are there for us to solve this problem (all ideas welcome)?

Blue hat thinking orchestrates, as the blue sky brings together and unifies. Blue hat thinking identifies objectives, summarizes points, and points to next steps.

Questions asked while wearing a blue hat might include: How can we identify the purpose of this meeting? What would be the next steps? How does each person want to be involved? Let’s summarize the points raised at the meeting.

Information about Edward de Bono

Nominated for the Nobel Prize for Economics in 2005, Edward de Bono is regarded by many as the leading authority in the field of creative thinking, innovation and the direct teaching of thinking as a skill. He is equally renowned for his development of the Six Thinking Hats technique and the Direct Attention Thinking Tools. He is the originator of the concept of Lateral Thinking, which is now part of language and is listed in the Oxford English Dictionary. Dr. de Bono was born in Malta. He was a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford, holds an MA in psychology and physiology from Oxford, a D. Phil. in Medicine and also a Ph.D. from Cambridge. He has held faculty appointments at the universities of Oxford, Cambridge, London and Harvard. Dr. de Bono's background in self-organizing systems led him to derive an understanding which he then applied to the neural networks of the brain (see The Mechanism of Mind 1969 - Penguin books). 

   

Resources: http://www.debonogroup.com/six_thinking_hats.php