Dr. Edward de Bono developed the Six Thinking Hats approach to parallel thinking. The approach divides thinking into six colors or "hats" that each represent a different perspective or thought process: white for objective facts; red for feelings; yellow for optimism and benefits; black for caution; green for creativity; and blue for organization and meta-thinking. By focusing discussion under only one hat at a time, it promotes different types of thinking in a structured yet flexible way to solve problems and make decisions.

1. Six Thinking
Hats

2. Dr Edward de Bono
• Dr de Bono is one of the few
people in history to have had
a major impact on the way we
think
• He is the Creator of what is
now known as Lateral and
Parallel Thinking
• Parallel Thinking is when everyone is on the
same page
• A simple and practical way of carrying out
“Parallel Thinking” is the Six Thinking Hats
Approach
• Our thinking changes according to the colour of
the hats .

3. • Six Thinking Hats Approach is defined as a Thinking
process where focus is split in specific direction
• A method for doing one sort of thinking at a time
• It promotes and separates thought processes into
six distinct thinking modes
FocusFeelings
Positive
Negative
CreativeFacts

4. • Only one hat at a time
= Unique Thinking
• “Switching” hat
= Redirect Thinking
• The colour of each hat
= Related to its function

5. How it Works ?
“Put on” and
“take off” a hat
• The colour gives direction
“Let’s have some black hat Thinking…”
• Not description or categories of people
Not: “He’s a black hat thinker.”

6. 1
White Hat
Thinking

7. Objective Facts
• Neutral and objective
• Disciplined and directional
• Factual
• How will I get the
information I need?
Imagine a white piece of
paper where you write all of
the facts for …

8. 2
Red Hat
Thinking

9. Feelings and Emotion:
• “This is how I feel about the
matter.”
• Subjective
• No justifications, reasons or bias
• Red hat legitimizes emotions
and feelings as an important part
of thinking
Imagine a Red heart for
feelings and passion.
Think of how you feel
about …

10. 3
Yellow Hat
Thinking

11. Positive, Hopeful
• Positive and constructive
• Positive thinking, optimistic
• Opportunity covers a
positive spectrum from
logical to practical
• Dreams, visions and hopes
• Probes and explores benefits
Imagine a yellow sun
representing benefits of a
sunny day!
Think if the benefits of…

12. 4
Black Hat
Thinking

13. Cautious and Careful:
• Separates logic from emotion
• Specifically concerned
with negative assessment
• Logical negative –what if it
won’t work?
• Negative assumptions
• Points out risks and dangers
Imagine Black judge’s
robe representing caution,
wisdom!
Think of what things you
should be cautious of …

14. 5
Green Hat
Thinking

15. Creative and New Ideas:
• Creative Thinking
• New ideas, concepts and
perceptions
• More alternatives
• New approaches to problems
Imagine Green grass for
constantly creating new
ideas.
Think of something creative…

16. 6
Blue Hat
Thinking

17. Focus, Control and
Organisation of Thinking:
• Ask the right questions
• Define the issues
• Set the Thinking tasks
• Observes and facilitates
• The Blue Hat often starts and
finishes the process
Imagine Blue sky for thinking
from a new perspective, as if
you were a bird in the air
looking down at the earth

18. When Using
the Hats
• 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
• Use any hat, as often as
needed
• Sequence can be pre-
set or evolving
• Not necessary to use
every hat
• Time under each hat:
generally short

19. In
Conclusion
• Provides a common
language
• Have an appreciation for the
experience and intelligenc of
each participant
• Diversity of thought
• Use more of our brains
• Helps people work against
type and preferences
• Saves time
• Focus (one thing at a
time)
• Creates, evaluates and
implements action plans