SIX THINKING HATS Based on the work by Edward de Bono

“Thinking-- The Ultimate Human Resource” n We can always improve our thinking skills. n Confused thinking arises from trying to do too much at once. n We should emphasize what can be, not what is.

Three Philosophers n Socrates: Focused on the Negative n Plato: See Shadows of the Truth n Aristotle: Concerned with What Is-- –Analysis, Judgment, Argument

Depends on your perspective…

Six hats is parallel thinking.

Results of Six Hat Thinking n Deriving power from focused thinking n Saving time n Removing ego from decisions n Doing one thing at a time

WHITE Neutral and Objective Deals with Facts

White Hat Activity Small groups of 3: Look at the box and pretend that some one has bought you a pet. It is inside the box. Write down all of the facts you would like to know about this pet? Write all your questions you want ans. Then share it.

RED n Emotions n Feelings n Hunches n Intuition

Red Hat Activity By yourself: Listen to this piece of music. Write down how these pieces of music make you feel?

Red Hat Activity By yourself: Listen to this piece of music. Write down how these pieces of music make you feel?

Red Hat Activity By yourself: Listen to this piece of music. Write down how these pieces of music make you feel?

YELLOW n Optimistic n Hopeful n Positive Thinking n Constructive n Effective

Yellow Hat Activity In small groups of 3: (Group Roles, Graphic Organisers) If dogs could be taught to speak, what would the benefits be? Make a List.

BLACK n Serious n Cautious n Careful n Lays Out Risks n Negative (Naysayer)

Black Hat Activity In small groups of 3: Look at the All-Weather Bike. Write what you think might be wrong with the design. Identify the weaknesses in this new kind of bicycle.

GREEN n Creative n New Ideas and Concepts n Search for Alternatives

Green Hat Activity Go back to the All-Weather Bike. We have looked at all the weaknesses of this new type of bike. Now go back and look at how we can overcome these weaknesses? Do you have any better ideas for an all weather bike? Draw your new bike. Write out your explanations.

BLUE n Process Control Overview n Organization n Responsible for Conclusions n Sets the Focus n Use of All the Hats

The Unique Blue Hat The 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?

Use Preset Sequence n Discipline n Timing n Guidelines

Results of Six Hat Thinking Decisions Seem to Make Themselves!

What If It’s Not Possible to Make a Decision? n May Need More Information n Can’t Reconcile Values n May Depend on Future Information

“Idea Killers” Good idea, but it’s the same as… We tried that before. That’s not how we do it here. Who will pay for that? Management will never go for it. Name some more…?

Edward de Bono: “With creativity, there still lingers the unfortunate and dangerous notion that creativity is just about being liberated and freed-up - and then the creative thoughts will flow. This old-fashioned notion has done more damage to creativity than anything else.”

Egg drop soup groups: “Create a container for an egg that will safely keep the egg from breaking when dropped from a two-story window. NOTES: n The container can be made of whatever materials you deem appropriate. n Draw a sketch of the container as if you were going to show a craftsman what your idea is and how to make it. n Use a dotted line to signify where the egg would be, inside of the container, and balloon callouts to describe what the materials are and what their functions would be.”