the six thinking hats
A book by Edwards De Bono, the 6 thinking hats is a method for providing a well-rounded set of perspectives on any topic.
The philosophy is a counter to the typical western argument style, in which a decision is made by way of battle. The six-thinking hats is in some ways a meeting style, in which the whole group attempts to think in the same 'direction' at the same time, rather than trying to find faults in each other's ideas.
The hats are, roughly:
- white - data, information
- red - emotion, gut feeling
- yellow - sunshine, positives, benefits
- black - criticisms, negatives, risks
- green - growth, creativity, new ideas
- blue - meta, managing the hats and conversation
More than just a meeting style, it helps to improve the language of conversation. Once two people are familiar with the concepts, the hats provide an accessible way to explore a topic from a variety of angles, rather than getting caught up in, for example, overwhelming criticism or ignorant optimism.
Visit each hat, and work on your sensitivity to each style of thinking! Thinking is a superpower.