Brainstorming Tool: Six Thinking Hats Technique

The Six Thinking Hats technique, developed by Edward de Bono, is a powerful tool for group discussion and individual thinking. It encourages parallel thinking by having participants adopt different perspectives, represented by six colored hats. Each hat symbolizes a specific type of thinking, allowing a structured exploration of ideas and problems from multiple angles.

Six Thinking Hats:

1. White Hat: Facts and Information
   • Focus on data, facts, and information.
   • Questions to ask: What do we know? What information is available? What are the facts? What information is missing?
2. Red Hat: Emotions and Feelings
   • Focus on feelings, intuitions, and emotions.
   • Questions to ask: How do we feel about this? What is our gut reaction? What are our intuitions telling us?
3. Black Hat: Critical Judgment
   • Focus on potential problems, risks, and difficulties.
   • Questions to ask: What are the weaknesses? What are the risks? What could go wrong? What are the potential problems?
4. Yellow Hat: Positive Judgment
   • Focus on benefits, positives, and opportunities.
   • Questions to ask: What are the strengths? What are the benefits? What is the best-case scenario? What opportunities does this present?
5. Green Hat: Creativity and Alternatives
   • Focus on creativity, new ideas, and alternatives.
   • Questions to ask: What are some alternative solutions? How can we think outside the box? What are some creative ideas?
6. Blue Hat: Process Control
   • Focus on managing the thinking process and ensuring adherence to the guidelines.
   • Questions to ask: What is our plan? What thinking is needed? What have we achieved so far? What should we do next?

How to Use the Six Thinking Hats:

1. Preparation:
   • Introduce the Six Thinking Hats technique to the group.
   • Assign a facilitator (wearing the Blue Hat) to guide the session.
2. Structured Sequence:
   • Use each hat in a structured sequence, allowing participants to focus on one type of thinking at a time.
   • Example sequence: Start with the Blue Hat to set objectives, then move to the White Hat for facts, followed by the Red Hat for feelings, the Black Hat for critical judgment, the Yellow Hat for positive aspects, the Green Hat for creativity, and return to the Blue Hat for process review and conclusion.
3. Discussion and Analysis:
   • During each phase, encourage participants to contribute thoughts and ideas relevant to the specific hat being used.
   • Ensure everyone participates and respects the focus of each hat.
4. Documentation and Action:
   • Document key points, ideas, and decisions made during each phase.
   • Develop an action plan based on the insights gained from the session.

Example of Using Six Thinking Hats:

Suppose a company is considering launching a new product. Here’s how they might use the Six Thinking Hats:

1. Blue Hat (Process):
   • Set objectives for the discussion: Understand the feasibility, potential risks, and benefits of launching the new product.
2. White Hat (Facts):
   • Gather data on market research, current trends, production costs, and competitor analysis.
3. Red Hat (Feelings):
   • Express feelings and intuitions about the new product launch without needing to justify them: excitement, concerns, gut reactions.
4. Black Hat (Critical Judgment):
   • Identify potential problems and risks: high competition, potential for low demand, production challenges.
5. Yellow Hat (Positive Judgment):
   • Highlight the benefits and opportunities: potential for high profit, market demand, innovative features of the product.
6. Green Hat (Creativity):
   • Brainstorm creative ideas and alternatives: new marketing strategies, partnership opportunities, product variations.
7. Blue Hat (Process Review):
   • Summarize the discussion, outline the next steps, assign tasks, and set deadlines.

Benefits of the Six Thinking Hats:

• Structured Thinking: Provides a clear framework for thinking and discussion.
• Balanced View: Ensures all perspectives are considered, leading to well-rounded decisions.
• Enhanced Creativity: Encourages creative thinking and the generation of new ideas.
• Improved Collaboration: Facilitates effective communication and collaboration within teams.
• Efficient Decision-Making: Helps in making informed and balanced decisions by systematically exploring all aspects of a problem or idea.

By using the Six Thinking Hats technique, individuals and groups can enhance their problem-solving and decision-making processes, leading to more effective and innovative outcomes.