By assigning specific thinking roles to different hats, this method provides a structured approach that encourages diverse perspectives, simplifies complex issues, and facilitates efficient hashtag#decisionmaking.

Lets explore the 6 different hats:

𝐁𝐥𝐮𝐞 𝐇𝐚𝐭: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐢𝐠 𝐏𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐞𝐫
Start with the Blue Hat to outline the overall goal of the thinking session. What are we aiming to achieve, and what is the focus of our discussion?

𝐑𝐞𝐝 𝐇𝐚𝐭: 𝐄𝐦𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐄𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
Put on the Red Hat to express emotions, intuitions, and gut feelings without justification. How does the idea make you feel? What are your instincts telling you?

𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐇𝐚𝐭: 𝐏𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐎𝐛𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐲
Switch to the White Hat for a neutral, data-driven assessment. What information do we have? What data is missing, and how can we acquire it?

𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐇𝐚𝐭: 𝐂𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐲
Don the Green Hat for brainstorming and creative exploration. How can we generate new ideas and solutions? What possibilities exist beyond the conventional?

𝐘𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐇𝐚𝐭: 𝐎𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞
Wear the Yellow Hat to focus on the benefits and values of ideas. What are the positive aspects, and how can we leverage them?

𝐁𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐇𝐚𝐭: 𝐂𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠
Lastly, employ the Black Hat for critical analysis. What are the potential pitfalls, risks, or drawbacks? Where do we need to exercise caution?

The “Six Thinking Hats” tool by Edward de Bono is versatile and can be used:

𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲: Switch between hats mentally, allocating specific time for each mode.
𝐈𝐧 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐬: Invite team members to experiment with the different hats for diverse thinking roles, fostering organized and balanced discussions.
𝐒𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐨𝐫 𝐑𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐦: Apply hats in order or based on discussion needs, promoting structured analysis.
𝐅𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐒𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬: Use the hats for brainstorming, problem-solving, or decision-making, preventing hashtag#bias and encouraging innovation.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐭?
𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐰𝐞𝐚𝐫?

Acknowledgement: Edward de Bono