Six Thinking Hats: 8 key ideas
The core ideas of Six Thinking Hats, each in under a minute, written in our own words. Want the full depth? Get the book.
- IDEA 1 OF 8
Think in parallel, not in conflict
De Bono argues that meetings often become arguments, with people attacking each other's ideas.
His Six Thinking Hats method lets a group think in parallel, all looking at a problem from the same angle at the same time.
- IDEA 2 OF 8
White hat looks at facts
The white hat focuses on information: what facts do we have, and what do we need?
It keeps discussion grounded. Wearing this hat means everyone sticks to what is known and what is missing, instead of arguing opinions at this stage.
- IDEA 3 OF 8
Red hat allows feelings
The red hat lets people express emotions and intuitions without explanation.
Feelings are treated as valid information. This hat lets a person say how they feel about an idea in a few words, without having to defend it with reasons.
- IDEA 4 OF 8
Black hat spots risks
The black hat focuses on caution, identifying risks and problems.
It prevents mistakes. Its purpose is to find what could go wrong with an idea and to point out weak spots before they cause real damage.
- IDEA 5 OF 8
Yellow hat finds benefits
The yellow hat looks for positive aspects and benefits.
It encourages optimism. Wearing this hat, people look for what is good in an idea and why it might work, instead of only seeing difficulties.
- IDEA 6 OF 8
Green hat creates ideas
The green hat focuses on creativity, generating new ideas and alternatives.
It welcomes possibilities. Wearing this hat, people are expected to suggest fresh options and to build on each other's ideas without judging them yet.
- IDEA 7 OF 8
Blue hat manages thinking
The blue hat manages the thinking process, setting the agenda and summarising.
It keeps discussion organised. Whoever wears it decides which hat the group should use next, and then draws the conclusions from the discussion at the end.
- IDEA 8 OF 8
Hats make meetings efficient
De Bono argues that using the hats makes meetings shorter and more productive.
Everyone contributes in a structured way. Because everyone looks in the same direction at the same time, there is less arguing, and the group gets to a useful result sooner.
Get one idea like this every daySwipe through ideas, go deeper on any of them, and save the ones that matter. Free.
Read Six Thinking Hats in the app