Six Thinking Hats
Explore problems from six different perspectives.
Explanation
Psychologist Edward de Bono created this method to help groups think more effectively by focusing on one type of thinking at a time. Each 'hat' represents a different perspective: White for facts, Red for emotions, Black for critical thinking, Yellow for optimism, Green for creativity, and Blue for process management. By wearing one hat at a time, groups avoid the common problem of criticism killing good ideas before they're fully developed.
Real-World Example
Team evaluating new feature: White: '10% of users requested this.' Red: 'Feels like feature creep.' Black: 'Will increase complexity.' Yellow: 'Could differentiate us.' Green: 'What if we made it a plugin?' Blue: 'Let's spend 5 minutes per hat.' All perspectives heard, better decision made.
How to Apply
Announce which hat everyone wears. Spend 5-10 minutes per hat. No switching hats mid-discussion. White first (establish facts). Black after Green (criticism after creativity). Blue throughout (managing process). Everyone must contribute from current hat's perspective. Document insights from each hat.