Gary DichtenbergCyberSkills, Inc.
Creative Problem Solving with
Six Thinking Hats
How to use Edward deBono’sparallel thinking in problem solving
Paul Reali • CyberSkills, Inc.
Goals of this program
Define parallel thinkingIdentify each of the six hatsLearn how to ask a good questionApply six hats method to problem solving
Paul Reali • CyberSkills, Inc.
What is parallel thinking?
At any moment everyone is looking in the same direction.
Paul Reali • CyberSkills, Inc.
So the six hats are…?
Six colors of hats for six types of thinking• Each hat identifies a type of thinking• Hats are directions of thinking
Hats help a group use parallel thinking• You can “put on” and “take off” a hat
Paul Reali • CyberSkills, Inc.
Uses for Six Hats
Problem solving Strategic planningRunning meetingsMuch more
Paul Reali • CyberSkills, Inc.
Six colors…
White: neutral, objectiveRed: emotional, angryBlack: serious, somberYellow: sunny, positiveGreen: growth, fertilityBlue: cool, sky above
Paul Reali • CyberSkills, Inc.
…and six hats
White: objective facts & figuresRed: emotions & feelingsBlack: cautious & carefulYellow: hope, positive & speculativeGreen: creativity, ideas & lateral thinkingBlue: control & organization of thinking
Paul Reali • CyberSkills, Inc.
General hat issues
Direction, not description• Set out to think in a certain direction• “Let’s have some black hat thinking…”
Not categories of people• Not: “He’s a black hat thinker.”• Everyone can and should use all the hats
A constructive form of showing off• Show off by being a better thinker• Not destructive right vs. wrong argument
Use in whole or in part
Paul Reali • CyberSkills, Inc.
Benefits of Six Thinking Hats
Provides a common languageExperience & intelligence of each person
(Diversity of thought)Use more of our brainsHelps people work against type, preferenceRemoval of ego (reduce confrontation)Save timeFocus (one thing at a time)Create, evaluate & implement action plans
Paul Reali • CyberSkills, Inc.
Using the hats
Use any hat, as often as neededSequence can be preset or evolvingNot necessary to use every hatTime under each hat: generally, shortRequires discipline from each person
• While using it, stay in the idiomAdds an element of play, play alongCan be used by individuals and groups
Paul Reali • CyberSkills, Inc.
The blue hat
Thinking about thinkingInstructions for thinkingThe organization of thinkingControl of the other hatsDiscipline and focus
Paul Reali • CyberSkills, Inc.
The blue hat role
Control of thinking & the processBegin & end session with blue hatFacilitator, session leader’s roleChoreography
• open, sequence, close• Focus: what should we be thinking about• Asking the right questions• Defining & clarifying the problem• Setting the thinking tasks
Paul Reali • CyberSkills, Inc.
Open with the blue hat…
Why we are herewhat we are thinking aboutdefinition of the situation or problemalternative definitionswhat we want to achievewhere we want to end upthe background to the thinkinga plan for the sequence of hats
Paul Reali • CyberSkills, Inc.
…and close with the blue hat
What we have achievedOutcomeConclusionDesignSolutionNext steps
Paul Reali • CyberSkills, Inc.
White Hat Thinking
Neutral, objective information Facts & figures Questions: what do we know, what don’t
we know, what do we need to know Excludes opinions, hunches, judgements Removes feelings & impressions Two tiers of facts
• Believed Facts• Checked Facts
Paul Reali • CyberSkills, Inc.
Red Hat Thinking
Emotions & feelings Hunches, intuitions, impressions Doesn’t have to be logical or consistent No justifications, reasons or basis All decisions are emotional in the end
Paul Reali • CyberSkills, Inc.
Yellow Hat Thinking
Positive & speculative Positive thinking, optimism, opportunity Benefits Best-case scenarios Exploration
Paul Reali • CyberSkills, Inc.
Green Hat Thinking
New ideas, concepts, perceptions Deliberate creation of new ideas Alternatives and more alternatives New approaches to problems Creative & lateral thinking
Paul Reali • CyberSkills, Inc.
Black Hat Thinking
Cautious and careful Logical negative – why it won’t work Critical judgement, pessimistic view Separates logical negative from emotional Focus on errors, evidence, conclusions Logical & truthful, but not necessarily fair
Paul Reali • CyberSkills, Inc.
Six hats summaryBlue: control & organization of thinking
White: objective facts & figures
Red: emotions & feelings
Yellow: hope, positive & speculative
Green: creativity, ideas & lateral thinking
Black: cautious & careful
Paul Reali • CyberSkills, Inc.
Asking the right question
We can’t get the right answer if we ask the wrong question
Crucial blue hat skillOne technique: five whys
Creative Problem Solving
Paul Reali • CyberSkills, Inc.
Paul Reali • CyberSkills, Inc.
“Traditional” CPS
Mess-findingData-findingProblem-findingIdea-findingSolution-findingAcceptance-finding
Paul Reali • CyberSkills, Inc.
Common idea-finding methods
BrainstormingMind MapsFree associationFreewritingIncubation
Paul Reali • CyberSkills, Inc.
Six hats & problem solving
A more deliberate process than CPSLike CPS, uses creativity (green hat)Unlike CPS, provides a mechanism for
evaluating ideas & making decisions
Paul Reali • CyberSkills, Inc.
Hypothetical problem solving program using the hats - 1
Blue hat• Organize the process
Red hat• Emotional issues & feelings
White hat• What do we know, need to know
Yellow hat• Proposals & suggestions; what ifs, why nots
Paul Reali • CyberSkills, Inc.
Blue hat• Focus on the areas that need new ideas
Green hat• Generate new ideas & concepts
Blue hat• Organize ideas & process for evaluation
White, yellow & green hats• Constructive thinking
Hypothetical problem solving program using the hats - 2
Paul Reali • CyberSkills, Inc.
Yellow hat• Positive assessment of viable alternatives
Black hat• Screening for impossible, unusable• Challenge the alternatives
Yellow & green hats• Overcome objections, correct faults, remove
weaknesses, solve problemsBlack hat
• Further scrutiny; point out risks, dangers
Hypothetical problem solving program using the hats - 3
Paul Reali • CyberSkills, Inc.
Blue hat• Overview of achievements so far• Organize choice of route
Red hat• Express feelings about the choices
Yellow & black hats• Looking for the best alternative
Blue hat• Strategy for implementation
Hypothetical problem solving program using the hats - 4
Paul Reali • CyberSkills, Inc.
Want to learn more? Workshops by Paul Reali
• CyberSkills, Inc.• 336.774.1411• www.cyberskills.com or www.omniskills.com• [email protected]
Lateral Thinking, deBono’s Thinking Course, and other books by Edward deBono