6 thinking hats

6 Thinking Hats

Edward De Bono

Dr. Edward De BonoEdward De Bono is a world-known expert in creative thinking. The 6 Thinking Hats is one such technique. The main idea is to have the group only “wear one hat at a time” when considering a problem. The wearing of the hat is metaphorical. At any one time, everyone will wear the same colour, in other words, look at the problem at hand from only one perspective, the perspective indicated by the hat colour.

Yellow Hat ActivityWhat are the good points of being Rakhi

Sawant?

Black Hat ActivityWhat is wrong with the Lokpal Bill?

Red Hat ActivityBy yourself:Listen to some piece of music. Write down how this piece of music makes you feel?

White Hat Activity

There is an epidemic in Mumbai. What are the questions you will ask yourself regarding the public health/welfare?

Green Hat ActivityIs there a more creative way to deal with

corruption other than the Lokpal bill or something else that needs to be done in addition to it?

The Unique Blue HatThe blue hat is different from the other hats because it is involved with directing the thinking process itself. We are actually using the blue hat whenever we suggest the next hat to be used.The blue hat need not be acknowledged at every turn however there are some points which it is often helpful i.e.,

1. At the outset of a discussion – Lets decide what we want to think about and which hats we will use?

2. At a midpoint to restate the thinking goal – I think we are getting away from what we wanted to talk about. Can someone recall what we decided to talk about?

3. At the end to summarise what thinking has been done – Think of a sentence that tells about what we have been doing today?