The Six Thinking Hats Method

 ØIt is a thinking tool for group discussion and individual thinking.

 ØCombined with the idea of parallel thinking, it provides a means for groups to think together more effectively, and a means to plan thinking processes in a detailed and cohesive way.

 ØAllows the thinker to do one thing at a time.

 ØThe emphasis is on “what can be” rather than just on “what is” and how we design a way forward – not on who is right and who is wrong.

 ØThe experience and intelligence of everyone is used in the same direction.
ØAllows a switch in thinking.

WHY HATS

ØStrong association between

     thinking and “thinking hats”

     or “thinking caps” in many

     cultures.

Ø Can be put on or taken off with

     ease.

Ø Easily visible to everyone around.

WHY COLORS?

ØAuthor wants thinkers to visualize hats as actual hats.                                                 

Ø Color makes the imagining easier.

ØEasy to remember.   
  

RESULTS

ØPOWER: Since everyone is looking and working in the same direction, it is totally absurd if a person shall hold back information because revealing it would weaken his/her argument.

ØTIME SAVING : Meetings take a third or a quarter of the time. All reports indicate how much quicker meetings have become after using the six hats method.

ØREMOVAL OF EGO: People don’t realize how obstructive the ego is in preventing effective thinking. With this method, one his/her the ego by preventing well as a thinker under each of the hats.

ØONE THING AT A TIME: The six hats method sensitizes the brain to think in a single direction at a single point of time. Ex: color printing. 

CONCLUSION

ØThe Six Thinking Hats concept allows the issue to be addressed from a variety of angles, thus servicing the needs of all individuals concerned.

ØThe most striking benefits of this method are seen in group discussions or conversations.

ØSince every thinker at every moment is looking at the same direction, the thoughts are laid out in parallel and in the end, the subject is fully explored.

ØThere are many organizations in which the symbolism of the hats has, indeed, become a part of everyday language- as a means to direct thinking more effectively.