A Step-by-step guide to getting more from your brainstorming sessions.

Download the Word Version here: Download here: Training Tools 6 Thinking Hats

Type

Creativity / idea evaluation tools

Purpose

Developed by Edward De Bono, the 6 Thinking Hats exercise is a creativity and idea evaluation tools that can be applied by both groups and individuals.

The tool is designed to encourage evaluation and exploration of ideas from multiple perspectives, represented by a different coloured hat. The perspectives (Hats) are as follows:

Hat

Perspective

Focus

White

Neutrality

 Focus on facts available. No assumptions or judgements.

Black

Negative

 Focus on flaws, weaknesses and cons. Negative judgements.

Yellow

Positive

 Focus on benefits and opportunities. Positive judgements.

Red

Feeling / Emotion

 Focus on instinctive or ‘gut’ reaction. No justification given.

Green

Creative

 Focus on alternatives and possibilities. Provocation of ideas.

Blue

Process Control

 Focus on how the above process is progressing. Typically carried out by facilitator. Concerned with the process as opposed to the outcome.

The sequence in which the 6 Hats are applied can be altered to suit the specific purpose of the facilitation event. Some sequence examples are listed below:

Purpose

Sequence

Identifying Options

 Blue, White, Black, Green, Blue

Option

Selection

 Blue, White, Yellow, Black, Red, Blue

Planning

 Blue, Yellow, Black, White, Blue, Green, Blue

Problem Solving

 Blue, White, Green, Red, Yellow, Black, Green, Blue

Timing

45mins to 1 hour.

Materials

Pen & paper for each participant; coloured cards representing the six coloured hats; Flip chart and markers; 6 Thinking Hats Worksheet (see below).

Method – Option #1

  1. Define the purpose of the session (i.e. identify options, select options, strategic planning etc).
  2. Communicate this purpose clearly to participants.
  3. Apply the Blue Hat – how should the process progress? What will help, what wont, etc.
  4. Select the first hat colour as appropriate to the purpose of the event.
  5. As a group discuss the agenda item from that perspective and note input of flip chart.
  6. Continue for each subsequent colour.
  7. Return to the Blue Hat to conclude process.

Method – Option #2

  1. Define the purpose of the session (i.e. identify options, select options, strategic planning etc).
  2. Communicate this purpose clearly to participants.
  3. Apply the Blue Hat – how should the process progress? What will help, what wont, etc.
  4. Assign a Hat to each participant. Group participant together if numbers require it.
  5. Get each participant (or sub-group) to explore the agenda item in isolation from the relevant perspective (Hat) assigned.
  6. Bring group together and note feedback from each individual (or sub-group) on the flip chart.
  7. Rotate hats between individuals (or sub-groups) and repeat steps 5 and 6 until each has had an opportunity to apply the different hats.
  8. Return to Blue Hat, collate all feedback and conclude process.

Method – Option #3

  1. Define the purpose of the session (i.e. identify options, select options, strategic planning etc).
  2. Communicate this purpose clearly to participants.
  3. Apply the Blue Hat – how should the process progress? What will help, what wont, etc.
  4. Give each participant a copy of the 6 Thinking Hats Worksheet.
  5. Get each participant to complete the worksheet by applying the various perspectives to the agenda item and noting them on the worksheet.
  6. Return to Blue Hat, collate all feedback and conclude process.