Creative Problem Solving with

Six Thinking Hats

How to use Edward deBonos parallel thinking in problem solving

Gary Dichtenberg CyberSkills, Inc.

Goals of this program

Define parallel thinking Identify each of the six hats Learn how to ask a good question Apply six hats method to problem solving

Paul Reali CyberSkills, Inc.

What is parallel thinking?

At any moment everyone is looking in the same direction.

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So the six hats are?

Six colors of hats for six types of thinking

Each hat identifies a type of thinking Hats are directions of thinking

Hats help a group use parallel thinking

You can put on and take off a hat

Paul Reali CyberSkills, Inc.

Uses for Six Hats

Problem solving Strategic planning Running meetings Much more

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Six colors

White: neutral, objective Red: emotional, angry Black: serious, somber Yellow: sunny, positive Green: growth, fertility Blue: cool, sky above

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and six hats

White: objective facts & figures Red: emotions & feelings Black: cautious & careful Yellow: hope, positive & speculative Green: creativity, ideas & lateral thinking Blue: control & organization of thinking

Paul Reali CyberSkills, Inc.

General hat issues

Direction, not description
Set out to think in a certain direction Lets have some black hat thinking

Not categories of people

Not: Hes a black hat thinker. Everyone can and should use all the hats

A constructive form of showing off

Show off by being a better thinker Not destructive right vs. wrong argument

Use in whole or in part

Paul Reali CyberSkills, Inc.

Benefits of Six Thinking Hats

Provides a common language Experience & intelligence of each person (Diversity of thought) Use more of our brains Helps people work against type, preference Removal of ego (reduce confrontation) Save time Focus (one thing at a time) Create, evaluate & implement action plans

Paul Reali CyberSkills, Inc.

Using the hats

Use any hat, as often as needed Sequence can be preset or evolving Not necessary to use every hat Time under each hat: generally, short Requires discipline from each person
While using it, stay in the idiom

Adds an element of play, play along Can be used by individuals and groups

Paul Reali CyberSkills, Inc.

The blue hat

Thinking about thinking Instructions for thinking The organization of thinking Control of the other hats Discipline and focus

Paul Reali CyberSkills, Inc.

The blue hat role

Control of thinking & the process Begin & end session with blue hat Facilitator, session leaders role Choreography
open, sequence, close Focus: what should we be thinking about Asking the right questions Defining & clarifying the problem Setting the thinking tasks

Paul Reali CyberSkills, Inc.

Open with the blue hat

Why we are here what we are thinking about definition of the situation or problem alternative definitions what we want to achieve where we want to end up the background to the thinking a plan for the sequence of hats

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and close with the blue hat

What we have achieved Outcome Conclusion Design Solution Next steps

Paul Reali CyberSkills, Inc.

White Hat Thinking

Neutral, objective information Facts & figures Questions: what do we know, what dont we know, what do we need to know Excludes opinions, hunches, judgements Removes feelings & impressions Two tiers of facts
Believed Facts Checked Facts

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Red Hat Thinking

Emotions & feelings Hunches, intuitions, impressions Doesnt have to be logical or consistent No justifications, reasons or basis All decisions are emotional in the end

Paul Reali CyberSkills, Inc.

Yellow Hat Thinking

Positive & speculative Positive thinking, optimism, opportunity Benefits Best-case scenarios Exploration

Paul Reali CyberSkills, Inc.

Green Hat Thinking

New ideas, concepts, perceptions Deliberate creation of new ideas Alternatives and more alternatives New approaches to problems Creative & lateral thinking

Paul Reali CyberSkills, Inc.

Black Hat Thinking

Cautious and careful Logical negative why it wont work Critical judgement, pessimistic view Separates logical negative from emotional Focus on errors, evidence, conclusions Logical & truthful, but not necessarily fair

Paul Reali CyberSkills, Inc.

Six hats summary

Blue: control & organization of thinking White: objective facts & figures Red: emotions & feelings Yellow: hope, positive & speculative

Green: creativity, ideas & lateral thinking

Black: cautious & careful

Paul Reali CyberSkills, Inc.

Asking the right question

We cant get the right answer if we ask the wrong question Crucial blue hat skill One technique: five whys

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Creative Problem Solving

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Traditional CPS

Mess-finding Data-finding Problem-finding Idea-finding Solution-finding Acceptance-finding

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Common idea-finding methods

Brainstorming Mind Maps Free association Freewriting Incubation

Paul Reali CyberSkills, Inc.

Six hats & problem solving

A more deliberate process than CPS Like CPS, uses creativity (green hat) Unlike CPS, provides a mechanism for evaluating ideas & making decisions

Paul Reali CyberSkills, Inc.

Hypothetical problem solving program using the hats - 1

Blue hat
Organize the process

Red hat
Emotional issues & feelings

White hat
What do we know, need to know

Yellow hat
Proposals & suggestions; what ifs, why nots

Paul Reali CyberSkills, Inc.

Hypothetical problem solving program using the hats - 2

Blue hat
Focus on the areas that need new ideas

Green hat
Generate new ideas & concepts

Blue hat
Organize ideas & process for evaluation

White, yellow & green hats

Constructive thinking

Paul Reali CyberSkills, Inc.

Hypothetical problem solving program using the hats - 3

Yellow hat
Positive assessment of viable alternatives

Black hat
Screening for impossible, unusable Challenge the alternatives

Yellow & green hats

Overcome objections, correct faults, remove weaknesses, solve problems

Black hat
Further scrutiny; point out risks, dangers

Paul Reali CyberSkills, Inc.

Hypothetical problem solving program using the hats - 4

Blue hat
Overview of achievements so far Organize choice of route

Red hat
Express feelings about the choices

Yellow & black hats

Looking for the best alternative

Blue hat
Strategy for implementation

Paul Reali CyberSkills, Inc.

Want to learn more?

Workshops by Paul Reali
CyberSkills, Inc. 336.774.1411 www.cyberskills.com or www.omniskills.com preali@cyberskills.com

Lateral Thinking, deBonos Thinking Course, and other books by Edward deBono

Paul Reali CyberSkills, Inc.