Six Thinking Hats Siddhesh

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Six Thinking HatsSix Thinking Hats

Having Effective Meetings…Having Effective Meetings…

Siddhesh Bhobe [email protected]

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The Originator: Dr. Edward de BonoThe Originator: Dr. Edward de Bono

M.D., Ph.D., (philosophy, M.D., Ph.D., (philosophy, medicine & psychology), medicine & psychology), Rhodes scholarRhodes scholar

World-renowned consultant to World-renowned consultant to business, governments, business, governments, schools and industryschools and industry

Author of 62 books in 40 Author of 62 books in 40 languageslanguages

Originator of Six Thinking Originator of Six Thinking Hats, Lateral Thinking and Hats, Lateral Thinking and Direct Attention Thinking ToolsDirect Attention Thinking Tools

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Results across the WorldResults across the World

Since 1993 over 200,000 trainedSince 1993 over 200,000 trained In use by many of the largest & most successful In use by many of the largest & most successful

organizations worldwide including NASA, IBM, organizations worldwide including NASA, IBM, DuPont, Shell and ABBDuPont, Shell and ABB

Works well in different culturesWorks well in different cultures Applies at all levels & across disciplinesApplies at all levels & across disciplines

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Case StudiesCase Studies

A division of Siemens reduced product A division of Siemens reduced product development time by 50%. development time by 50%.

ABB was able to reduce a series of multinational ABB was able to reduce a series of multinational project meetings from 30 days to 2 days. project meetings from 30 days to 2 days.

After learning de Bono creative thinking skills, After learning de Bono creative thinking skills, fights between miners at a South African mine fights between miners at a South African mine were reduced from 210 per month, to 4. were reduced from 210 per month, to 4.

Statoil solved a problem on their oil rig costing one Statoil solved a problem on their oil rig costing one hundred thousand dollars a day, in 12 mins.hundred thousand dollars a day, in 12 mins.

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The Problem in ThinkingThe Problem in Thinking

Western Culture encourages arguments – can Western Culture encourages arguments – can lead to aggression, selection of facts to support lead to aggression, selection of facts to support your caseyour case

Eastern Culture suppresses discussions or Eastern Culture suppresses discussions or questions – no free flow of ideasquestions – no free flow of ideas

Thinking involves taking too many different paths Thinking involves taking too many different paths at one time – Emotions, Information, Logic, Hope at one time – Emotions, Information, Logic, Hope and Creativityand Creativity

Facts are selectively used, depending on whether Facts are selectively used, depending on whether it helps you reinforce your point of viewit helps you reinforce your point of view

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Parallel ThinkingParallel Thinking

Everyone thinks in the same direction at any given Everyone thinks in the same direction at any given point point

Directions can be changed – but everyone Directions can be changed – but everyone changes direction at the same time!changes direction at the same time!

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The Basics of the HatsThe Basics of the Hats

There are six different imaginary hats that you can There are six different imaginary hats that you can put on or take off.put on or take off.

Think of the “hats” as thinking icons.Think of the “hats” as thinking icons. Each hat is a different color and represents a Each hat is a different color and represents a

different type or mode of thinking.different type or mode of thinking. We all wear the same hat (do the same type of We all wear the same hat (do the same type of

thinking) at the same time.thinking) at the same time. When we change hats - we change our thinking.When we change hats - we change our thinking.

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Blue HatBlue HatManaging The Thinking

Setting The FocusMaking Summaries

Overviews ConclusionsAction Plans

Green HatGreen HatCreative Thinking

Possibilities Alternatives New Ideas New Concepts

Overcome Black Hat Problems & Reinforce Yellow Hat Values

Black HatBlack Hat

Why It May Not WorkCautions DangersProblems Faults Logical Reasons Must Be Given

Yellow HatYellow HatWhy It May Work

Values & Benefits(Both Known & Potential)

The Good In ItLogical Reasons Must Be Given

Red HatRed HatFeelings & Intuition

Emotions Or Hunches “At This Point”

No Reasons or JustificationKeep It Short

White HatWhite HatInformation & Data

Neutral & ObjectiveChecked & Believed Facts

Missing Information & Where To Source It

FOCUSFOCUS

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White HatWhite Hat

With this thinking hat you focus on the data With this thinking hat you focus on the data available. available.

Look at the information you have, and see what Look at the information you have, and see what you can learn from it. you can learn from it.

Look for gaps in your knowledge, and either try to Look for gaps in your knowledge, and either try to fill them or take account of them.fill them or take account of them.

This is where you analyze past trends, and try to This is where you analyze past trends, and try to extrapolate from historical data.extrapolate from historical data.

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White Hat Excludes…White Hat Excludes…

HunchHunch IntuitionIntuition Judgement based on past experienceJudgement based on past experience FeelingFeeling ImpressionImpression OpinionOpinion

These are important, but DO NOT belong to White These are important, but DO NOT belong to White Hat thinking!Hat thinking!

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White Hat – Is it a Fact or a Belief?White Hat – Is it a Fact or a Belief?

Many “facts” are simply personal beliefs or a Many “facts” are simply personal beliefs or a comment made in good faithcomment made in good faith I believe the Boeing 737 is the least noisy among all I believe the Boeing 737 is the least noisy among all

aircraftsaircrafts I think Map Point is cheaper than GoogleI think Map Point is cheaper than Google

Important to classify facts asImportant to classify facts as Checked factChecked fact Unchecked fact (belief)Unchecked fact (belief)

In White Hat thinking, facts should NOT be used to In White Hat thinking, facts should NOT be used to support or suppress a point of view – they should support or suppress a point of view – they should be neutral be neutral

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Facts and PhilosophyFacts and Philosophy

““All swans are white” – truth backed by All swans are white” – truth backed by observation of 100 swansobservation of 100 swans

Suddenly, you see a black swanSuddenly, you see a black swan Now what?Now what?

Your “truth” becomes untrueYour “truth” becomes untrue You can now say “By and large, swans are white”You can now say “By and large, swans are white” You can also change the definition of a swan, such that You can also change the definition of a swan, such that

whiteness becomes integral to the definitionwhiteness becomes integral to the definition Philosophy is about definitions and interpretationsPhilosophy is about definitions and interpretations

White Hat thinking allows “by and large” and other White Hat thinking allows “by and large” and other such generalizationssuch generalizations

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Green HatGreen Hat

The Green Hat stands for creativity. The Green Hat stands for creativity. This is where you can develop creative solutions This is where you can develop creative solutions

to a problem. to a problem. It is a freewheeling way of thinking, in which there It is a freewheeling way of thinking, in which there

is little criticism of ideas. is little criticism of ideas.

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Yellow HatYellow Hat

The Yellow Hat helps you to think positively. The Yellow Hat helps you to think positively. It is the optimistic viewpoint that helps you to see It is the optimistic viewpoint that helps you to see

all the benefits of the decision and the value in it. all the benefits of the decision and the value in it. Yellow Hat thinking helps you to keep going when Yellow Hat thinking helps you to keep going when

everything looks gloomy and difficult.everything looks gloomy and difficult.

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Black HatBlack Hat

Becoming the Devil’s AdvocateBecoming the Devil’s Advocate Using Black Hat thinking, look at all the bad points Using Black Hat thinking, look at all the bad points

of the decision. Try to see why it might not work.of the decision. Try to see why it might not work. Black Hat thinking helps to make your plans Black Hat thinking helps to make your plans

'tougher' and more resilient.'tougher' and more resilient. It can also help you to spot fatal flaws and risks It can also help you to spot fatal flaws and risks

before you embark on a course of action. before you embark on a course of action.

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Red HatRed Hat

'Wearing' the Red Hat, you look at problems using 'Wearing' the Red Hat, you look at problems using intuition, gut reaction, and emotion. intuition, gut reaction, and emotion.

Also try to think how other people will react Also try to think how other people will react emotionally. emotionally.

Try to understand the responses of people who do Try to understand the responses of people who do not fully know your reasoning.not fully know your reasoning.

No need to justify or give reasons for the emotionsNo need to justify or give reasons for the emotions Useful to do a Red Hat session at the beginning, Useful to do a Red Hat session at the beginning,

and then at the end to see whether people now and then at the end to see whether people now feel differentlyfeel differently

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Blue HatBlue Hat

The Blue Hat stands for process control. The Blue Hat stands for process control. This is the hat worn by people chairing meetings. This is the hat worn by people chairing meetings. When running into difficulties because ideas are When running into difficulties because ideas are

running dry, they may direct activity into Green Hat running dry, they may direct activity into Green Hat thinking. When contingency plans are needed, thinking. When contingency plans are needed, they will ask for Black Hat thinking, etc.they will ask for Black Hat thinking, etc.

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Using Sequence of HatsUsing Sequence of Hats

No fixed rules, but can be used effectively to drive No fixed rules, but can be used effectively to drive efficient meetingsefficient meetings

Example sequence:Example sequence: Blue Hat: Decide Agenda and SequenceBlue Hat: Decide Agenda and Sequence White Hat: State factsWhite Hat: State facts Green Hat: BrainstormGreen Hat: Brainstorm Yellow Hat: List AdvantagesYellow Hat: List Advantages Black Hat: List Pitfalls and DisadvantagesBlack Hat: List Pitfalls and Disadvantages Red Hat: See how people feelRed Hat: See how people feel Blue Hat: Take a final decision and assign Action ItemsBlue Hat: Take a final decision and assign Action Items

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Facilitator’s RoleFacilitator’s Role

Define the focus of your thinkingDefine the focus of your thinking Plan the sequence and timing of the thinkingPlan the sequence and timing of the thinking Ask for changes in the thinking if neededAsk for changes in the thinking if needed Handle requests from the group for changes in the Handle requests from the group for changes in the

thinkingthinking Form periodic or final summaries of the thinking for Form periodic or final summaries of the thinking for

consideration by the teamconsideration by the team

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Participant’s RoleParticipant’s Role

Follow the lead of Six Thinking Hats facilitatorFollow the lead of Six Thinking Hats facilitator Stick to the hat (type of thinking) that is in current Stick to the hat (type of thinking) that is in current

useuse Try to work within the time limitsTry to work within the time limits Contribute honestly & fully under each of the hatsContribute honestly & fully under each of the hats

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Rules of the GameRules of the Game

You have to follow the rules of the game! You have to follow the rules of the game! Hats describe direction to be followed, not people. Hats describe direction to be followed, not people. Blue Hat needs to be worn by the facilitator at all Blue Hat needs to be worn by the facilitator at all

times – else you can end up fighting on what hat to times – else you can end up fighting on what hat to wear next!wear next!

Everyone has to wear the same color hat at any Everyone has to wear the same color hat at any one time – you cannot have different people one time – you cannot have different people wearing different hats at the same time!wearing different hats at the same time!

Do not try to change personalities – if you are Do not try to change personalities – if you are aggressive, you can continue to be so, as long as aggressive, you can continue to be so, as long as your aggression is in the correct direction required your aggression is in the correct direction required at that time!at that time!

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Let’s Think!!! Let’s Think!!!

Siddhesh Bhobe (Siddhesh Bhobe ([email protected]@persistent.co.in) )