Six Thinking Hats: An Innovation Tool

for Group Discussion &

Parallel Thinking

Jan McNally Corporate Director, Leadership

DevelopmentCovenant Health

Six Thinking Hats

• Method used for parallel thinking devised by Dr. Edward De Bono– Physician, Ph.D– Degrees in psychology and physiology– Rhodes Scholar– Major clients: IBM, Du Pont,

Prudential, British Airways, AT & T, Siemens

Parallel Thinking

• Concept introduced by Dr. De Bono

• Traditional thinking: analysis, judgment and argument

(Think the Big 3: Aristotle, Plato and Socrates)

• Parallel thinking: constructive, creative

Parallel Thinking

• Extremely broad application:– Schools – 5 year olds in Argentina to

senior science students in Malaysia– Business – major corporations such

as Microsoft– Armed Services – Royal British Navy– Multi-cultural – Europe, Asia,

Americas, Australia

Six Thinking Hats Method: Practical Ways of Using

Parallel Thinking

• Specifically, what is Parallel Thinking?

– An alternative to arguing– 2 or more people explore a subject from

all sides of the issue, in tandem or cooperatively, instead of arguing against the others’ points

– A method to unbundle our thinking– All focus in the same direction at the

same time

What are the Benefits of Using the Six Thinking Hats?

• Works – see results immediately

• Simple to learn, use and implement

• Not dependent on others

• Modifies behavior without attacking it

• Empowers and can be used at all levels

• Reduces conflict

• Enhances quality of thinking

How Does It Work?

• Each of the Six Thinking Hats has a color as its name

• The color helps us to remember what a hat stands for

• All participants ‘put on’ the same color hat simultaneously and focus their thinking on the subject using the characteristics of that hat, and that hat only

So, What Are Those Six Hats?

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.

Hats in Pairs

• White and Red

• Black and Yellow

• Green and Blue

Two Uses For The Hats

• Single Use – when there is a need for everyone in

the group to focus their thinking on the subject wearing a single hat

Examples Of Single Use Of The Hats

• Green Hat thinking to generate some fresh ideas or solutions

• Black Hat thinking to identify the possible pitfalls with what seems like a brilliant new idea

• Yellow Hat thinking to get people to focus on looking for values in an idea (usually harder to find benefits than dangers in a new idea)

Sequence Use Of The Hats

• Evolving – sequence ‘evolves’ depending on the output of each hat; recommended only for experienced, trained facilitators

• Preset – established at the beginning of the session, under an initial blue hat, often worn by a facilitator

Ground Rules for Participants

• Follow the lead of the Six Hat Facilitator

• Stick to the hat (type thinking) that is in current use

• Try to stay within the planned time limits

• Contribute honestly and fully under each of the hats

Facilitator Role

• Define & clarify the focus of the team thinking

• Plan the sequence and timing of each ‘hat’, or thinking step

• Manage requests from the group for changes in sequence

• Form periodic summaries of the thinking for the team

Blue Hat Always Begins And Ends…

• Blue Hat should always be used at the beginning and the end

• First Blue Hat – sets the stage: why, what, desired outcomes, plan for sequence of hats

• Second Blue Hat – what was achieved, outcomes, next steps, etc.

Tips & Techniques

• Red Hat may be used first, after first Blue Hat, when there are strong feelings on the subject already

• In an assessment situation, put the Yellow Hat before the Black: if can’t find much value, no sense in going further

• Using Black after Yellow – if you’ve seen lots of value, easier to work to overcome obstacles identified

More Tips…

• Most valuable in group discussions although can be used individually

• May want to do ‘silent thinking’ for 2 minutes before having participants share ideas aloud

• Call on those who are not speaking up

• Use the Six Hats in reports from a group on identified topics

Summary

• Not just another gimmick

• Represents a fundamental shift away from basic principles of Western thinking: argument and a focus on defending our current beliefs and ideas versus generating or considering and evaluating new ideas or points of view

Cautions

• Do not use method as a way to label people: “Black Hat” person

• Do not assign a hat only to an individual – see above

• There is no one right sequence to use

• Always refer to the hats by their color, never by their function

Six Thinking Hats Exercise

• You are the leadership team of a mid-size Tennessee company that is only 5 years old

• Your company has been highly successful in identifying a niche market

• You provide secure, highly reliable, reasonably priced, on-site services to owners of home computers and mobile devices

• You specialize in new equipment set-up, troubleshooting, maintenance and repair of existing equipment and software

• You have leveraged your success in working with the “Low-Tech. High-Need Customer” to grow your business profitably in the last 2 years

• Your leadership team is evaluating the idea of partnering with TNCPE, using the Baldrige Criteria, in your quest to achieve the highest levels of performance excellence for your company

• Your CEO has read a lot about what value this could bring to the company but is fairly naive about what it might entail

• There are mixed reactions among the senior team members, some of whom never heard of TNCPE, or Baldrige, and others who are very knowledgeable and even served as Examiners at their previous company

Assignment

• Blue Hat – Facilitator

We will use the Six Thinking Hats method to formulate your recommendations to your CEO regarding his proposal to partner with the TNCPE and begin using the Baldrige Criteria to improve your company’s performance

Sequence of Hats

• Participants (you!) will wear the Red Hat first and share all of your intuitions and feelings/emotions about what this might mean for your company

• Next, you will wear the Yellow Hat and share all the logical positive ways this could bring value and benefits for your company

Sequence of Hats

• Next, you will don the Black Hat and brainstorm all the possible cautions, problems, reasons you should not do this, or that it wouldn’t be good for your company at this time

Blue Hat again…

• Blue Hat – audience volunteer participant will summarize the discussion for presenting to the boss and next steps