think through problems fully
save time and find solutions by separating facts from emotions, benefits from cautions, and process from creativity
save time and find solutions by separating facts from emotions, benefits from cautions, and process from creativity
Six Thinking Hats is a form of parallel thinking, where you focus on a single direction of thinking to solve a problem or brainstorm an idea. You separate emotion from logic, creativity from information, and positivity from caution.
A group using Six Thinking Hats fully utilizes everyone's knowledge, intelligence, and experiences. You avoid confusion and time-consuming arguments.
The hats are a metaphor that represent each type of thinking. Hats are easy to put on and take off. They are clearly visible. They indicate a type of thinking. Refer to hats by their color, not their function.
Dr. Edward de Bono, a Maltese physician, psychologist, author, inventor, and consultant, wrote the Six Thinking Hats book in 1985. He has authored over 50 other books on thought.
He is a proponent of teaching thinking as a subject in schools. He also teaches thinking methods to government agencies, corporate clients, organizations and individuals, in private and publicly group sessions.
Everyone is thinking, working, and looking in the same direction, like rowers in a boat or focused sun rays.
Take less time since there is no need to respond or argue while everyone explores ideas in the same direction.
Ego undermines effective thinking. Exert your effort into performing well as a thinker under each hat, instead of disproving or arguing.
Dedicate attention to a single task. Doing too many things at once causes confusion and inefficiency. Juggling one ball is easier than many.
Remember: the hats are metaphors for directions in thinking. Hats are always refered to by their color.
neutral, objective, facts
emotion, gut, instinct
positive, benefits, hopes
careful, cautious, critical
process, organization, big picture
creative, free, growth
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