1. Creativity @ the Workplace
6 THINKING HATS

2. Edward de Bono

3. A mental metaphor
Critical Thinking

4. Purpose of the Hats
• Problem solving
• Strategic planning
• Conducting effective meetings

5. Benefits
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Common language
Diversity
Use MORE brains
Eliminates stereotyping, preferences
Reduces confrontation
Save time
Focused!

6. The Application
• Any hat, any time
• Sequence – go with the flow / pre-set
• Timed – short for each hat

7. The Blue Hat Roles
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Control the process
Beginning & ending
Facilitator
Choreographer
– Open, sequence, close
– Focus
– Ask the right questions
– Set the thinking tasks

8. White Hat Roles
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Neutral
Objective
Exclude opinions, hunches, judgments
Remove feelings
Factual

9. Red Hat Roles
• Don’t have to be logical
• Don’t have to be consistent
• No justifications, reasons or basis

10. Yellow Hat Roles
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Positive
Speculative
Opportunities
Benefits
Best-case scenarios
Exploration

11. Green Hat Roles
• Creation of new ideas
• Alternatives, alternatives, and MORE
alternatives
• New approaches
• Creative and lateral thinking

12. Black Hat Roles
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Cautious
Logical negative
Critical, pessimistic view
Focus on errors, evidence, conclusions
Logical & truthful, not necessarily fair