The document introduces Edward de Bono's Six Thinking Hats technique for decision making. The technique involves considering a situation from six perspectives represented by colored hats: White Hat focuses on objective facts; Red Hat focuses on emotions; Black Hat focuses on critical analysis; Yellow Hat focuses on benefits and optimism; Green Hat focuses on creative, novel ideas; and Blue Hat manages the discussion and thinking process. Using the hats allows for a comprehensive yet structured approach to decision making.

1. 6 T H IN K IN G H A T S
Decision-Making Tool from decision-making-howto.com

2. In t r o d u c t io n
Author EdwaAuthor Edward de Bono introduces a great technique to view a given
situation through different perspectives.

3. W h it e H a t
• With this thinking hat you lay down the data available.
You can write down what you know about the situation
(time line, figures, who would be concerned, and so on).
With this hat, you extrapolate from past trends.
• For example, if you are considering buying a house you
will write down the expected cost (monthly payments,
maintenance, electricity, etc..) based on your experience
and your research.

4. Red Hat
With the red hat on, you look at problems using
your gut reaction and emotions. Also try to consider
how other will react emotionally. Try to imagine
what would be the reaction of a relative who
doesn’t have all the facts.

5. Red Hat
If we stay with the same example, something like “I
hate the idea to commit to a 20 years mortgage” or
“I’ll never find a home I like within my budget”
would be some of the answers. Just by becoming
aware of these initial points of resistance (which
often remain un-formulated) will be helpful.

6. B la c k H a t
• Wearing the black hat, you also look at problems
but this time from an analytical point of view. It
will help to make your plan tighter.
“What if I loose my job and can’t afford the monthly
payments?”

7. Ye l l o w H a t
• The yellow hat is the optimistic point of view that
allows you to see all the benefits of the decision
you are considering making.
“Buying an apartment is an investment for the
future”; “I’ll feel I’m at home”; “I’ll be able to work
the space to my taste.”

8. G re e n H a t
It is the hat of creative thinking. It consists of a
freewheeling way of thinking. It is about generating
solutions and ideas without, at this point,
scrutinizing their feasibility. Coming up with many
ideas, even exotic ones, is a great mental work that
will help adding perspectives to a given situation.

9. B lu e H a t
The blue hat deals with managing the discussion.
You use it in between every other hat to see what’s
needed. If for example, you start to worry about the
situation and become too pessimistic, the blue hat
thinking will invite you the wear the Yellow Hat to
balance out the negativity.

10. C o n c lu s io n
You can use the 6 Hats technique on your own
alternating the different roles, or you can do this
exercise with the help of others (people involves by
the decision, friends, relatives) where each person
would be attributed a hat. You will be surprised by
the many insights that can come out of such a
group exercise.

11. Le a rn more
• Visit http://decision-making-howto.com