Post on 13-Aug-2018
transcript
Blue Sky Leadership Consulting LLC 2014
Six Thinking Hats
VOL. # ONE ISSUE #3
A Book Review
“Six Hats method had reduced meeting times to one quarter of what they
had been. (Preface)
“The main difficulty of thinking is confusion. We try to do too much at
once. Emotions, information, logic, hope and creativity all crowd in on us.
It is like juggling with too many balls.” (P. xi)
“With the Six Hats method the emphasis is on ‘what can be’ rather than
just on ‘what is,’ and on how we design a way forward – not on who is
right and who is wrong.” (P. xiii)
“The hats are NOT descriptions of people but modes of behavior.” (P. 6)
use of the hats as labels is dangerous because it destroys the whole point
of the system, which is that everyone can look in every direction.” (P. 7)
“The first purpose is to simplify thinking by allowing a thinker to deal
with one thing at a time…The second main purpose is to all a SWITCH in
thinking.” (P. 172)
Six Thinking Hats…Developing parallel thinking so everyone is looking in the same direction. Braeuler Consulting works with organizations to leverage Strategic Thinking and Execution Planning and we encompass many of these
principles into our Four DecisionsTM methodology and development of company’s One Page Strategic Plans. Whatever
system or systems you decide to use, I encourage you to understand them fully, implement them slowly and completely and
maintain the discipline and rhythm necessary to see concrete results. Employees tire of “Flavor of the Month” initiatives.
They also thrive on organizational alignment, execution of plans and achievements that garner a sense of accomplishment.
“Western thinking is concerned with ‘what is’ – determined by analysis, judgment and argument.
Another aspect of thinking is concerned with ‘what can be’ which involves constructive thinking,
creative thinking, and ‘designing a way forward’.”
“Once upon a time a man painted half his car
white and the other half black. His friends asked
him why he did such a strange thing. ‘Because it
is such fun, whenever I have an accident, to hear
the witnesses in court contradict each other.’ ”
Braeuler Consulting
Peter Braeuler Telephone 210.219.9934
Peter@Braeulerconsulting.com
Book in a Bite
Key quotes
Blue Sky Leadership Consulting LLC 2014
1. White Hat THE WHITE HAT IS ABOUT
INFORMATION…HARD FACTS AND
FIGURES TO SOFT INFORMATION LIKE
OPINIONS AND FEELINGS… WITH NO
ARGUMENT.” P.25
❖ Often used at the beginning of session as
a background and at the end as an
assessment.
❖ The white hat is neutral
❖ Two tiers – believed facts (second-class
facts) and checked and proven facts.
❖ Your own opinion is NEVER permitted
❖ Frame information – “anecdotes” or
“instances” appropriately
❖ There is nothing absolute about white
hat thinking. It is a direction in which we
strive to get better.
❖ White hat thinking should imitate the
computer.
❖ Can be uses at the start and end of
session to assess feelings and then see
if those feelings have changed.
❖ Always apply to a specific idea or
situation.
❖ Ask in turn and no pass is allowed –
express feelings and don’t force a
judgment.
❖ Intuition, hunch, and feelings are
close. The red hat gives them
legitimacy. It is real and can contribute
to the process.
❖ Under the red hat express an opinion
as a feeling.
❖ The red hat makes feelings visible.
❖ Never attempt to justify the feelings.
Use of hats
Keys
1) Single – as needed – I think we need green hat thinking (use
with discretion)
2) Sequence – 2, 3, 4, or more a) Evolve – facilitator picks one, then another (manipulative?)
b) Preset – set order under BLUE hat and limit time for each
i) Start and end with the blue hat
Book in a Bite
The Six Hats
1. White - Neutral
2. Red - Emotions
3. Black - Weaknesses
4. Yellow - Optimistic
5. Green - Creativity
6. Blue - Process
“Always refer to hats by
their color and never by
their function.”
2. Red Hat THINK OF FIRE; THINK OF WARMTH; THINK
OF FEELINGS. USING THE RED HAT GIVES YOU
AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS FEELINGS,
EMOTIONS AND INTUITION WITHOUT ANY
NEED TO EXPLAIN OR JUSTIFY THEM. (P.47)
Spectrum of Likelihood (p. 41)
Always true Usually true
Generally true
By and large More often than not
About half the time
Often
Sometimes true Occasionally true
Been known to happen
Never true Cannot be true (contradictory)
Blue Sky Leadership Consulting LLC 2014
concerned with ge
❖ We need to develop “value sensitivity” to see value as
easily as we see danger. A habit that must be developed.
❖ It is a judgment hat and is not based on fantasy.
❖ Being positive is a choice
❖ The emphasis is on exploration and positive speculation
and finding possible benefits – then seek to justify them
and strengthen suggestion.
❖ Concerned with generation of proposals or building up
proposals
❖ Effectiveness rather than novelty – probes for value and
benefit.
Braeuler Consulting VOL. # ONE ISSUE #3
Book in a Bite
4. The Yellow Hat THE YELLOW HAT IS FOR CONSTRUCTIVE THINKING.
THINK OF SUNSHINE. OPTIMISM. SEE HOW IT MAY BE
POSSIBLE TO PUT THE IDEA INTO PRACTICE. WE ARE
CONCERNED WHT POSITIVE ASSESSMENT.
❖ The hat of survival, caution, &
avoidance
❖ It is the basis of critical thinking.
❖ It is not permitted to be critical
except when using the black hat.
❖ Black hat thinking is always
logical.
❖ It is important that the black hat
be done thoroughly.
❖ It is OK to point out deficiencies
in the thinking process (p.77) but
is not permission to go back to
“argument”.
❖ Effective way of putting forward
comments…”I see a danger…”
“I see…”
❖ Over use of the black hat is not
helpful
❖ What are the weaknesses, what
may go wrong, does this fit…
3. The Black Hat
THE BLACK HAT IS THE MOST USED
AND PERHAPS MOST IMPORTANT. IT IS
THE HAT OF CAUTION…FOR BEING
CAREFUL. IT STOPS US DOING THINGS
THAT ARE ILLEGAL, DANGEROUS,
UNPROFITABLE, POLLUTING, AND SO
ON. (P 72)
Six Thinking Hats a. Decisions often make themselves
b. In the end all decisions are really “RED
HAT”
Source: Mindwerx 2007 Six Thinking Hats Summary
The Positive Spectrum (P. 96) Proven
Very likely
Good chance
Even chance
No better than possible
Remote or longshot
Assessment thinking ➢ Start YELLOW – to overcome difficulties
➢ Then BLACK – so you don’t just dismiss ideas
➢ Assess idea 1 – Green Yellow Black
➢ Assess idea 2 – Green Yellow Black
Blue Sky Leadership Consulting LLC 2014
Pbraeuler@Braeulerconsulting.com
Book in a Bite
The CONCEPT MANAGER:
o Green HAT used to collect outputs and ideas
o Yellow HAT develop the ideas and put some meat on bones
o Black HAT identify issues and concerns
o White HAT use any time to supply required data
o Red HAT do we like it, how do we feel
6. The Blue Hat THE BLUE HAT IS THE CONTROL
HAT; THE FACILITATOR HAT.
SET THE STAGE; OVERVIEW; THE
CONDUCTOR; ORGANIZING THE
THINKING ITSELF.
Conduct your
orchestra in
parallel thinking
5. The Green Hat THE GREEN HAT IS THE ENERGY HAT. THINK OF
VEGETATION AND GROWTH…NEW LEAVES AND
BRANCHES. IT IS THE CREATIVE HAT.
❖ New ideas, laying out options and alternatives.
❖ We seek to modify and improve suggested ideas.
❖ Make a creative effort or keep quiet! (People don’t like
to keep quiet so they make a creative effort).
❖ Permission to put forward “possibilities”.
❖ Movement value forward effect. Using ideas to
move forward – a stepping stone.
❖ PO – Provocation and movement value (Provocative
Operation) – the option to forward “crazy ideas”
(p. 128)
o PO – cars should have square wheels.
o PO – stores should pay customers
❖ Search for alternatives.
❖ Use to start – define the situation, what is to be
achieved.
❖ Agenda
❖ What hats will be used and in what order.
❖ At end ask for outcomes;
summary. ❖ Assess priorities; list
constraints
❖ Can be assigned – a monitor.