Six hats (developed by Edward de Bono who is known for his work on lateral, creative thinking) is a way of understanding and solving problems.

De Bono realized that when discussing a problem with another person, people could end up in unprofitable arguments. Upon further examination, he discovered it was because they were each representing a different way of looking at the problem. If they were talking apples and oranges, and assuming since the conversation was about fruit, they were both talking about the same fruit.  From this he developed the Six Hats process of understanding problem-solving.

Imagine seeing the metaphor of six stacks of hats lined up on a table. Each of the six piles is a different color, and each represents a different way of looking at the problem. When discussing the problem, it is helpful if everyone collectively takes turns wearing the same colored hats. This way, each perspective, each color, has its turn being explored methodically, and everyone is focused on the same aspect of the problem-solving process.

It is a practical, interactive, and fast-paced way of moving forward, minus arguing. You learn to separate out the facts from the emotions, the creative from critical thinking, and the positive from the negative. All are valued but each in their turn.

Six hats can be used for ongoing process improvement, new designs/products, resolving conflict, facilitating meetings, group problem-solving, presentations, and decision-making. It can also be used in workplaces, individually, in couple relationships, or in families. Six Hats also works well cross-culturally.

The six stacks of colored hats can be used in the order presented or more flexibly, depending on your needs.

White Hat – “Just the facts please”: This hat looks at how you identify the problem, by examining the known and unknown facts and information.

Red Hat – Using your hunches and feelings: The red hat looks at the brainstorming process. You can explore fully by using and acknowledging the fullness of all your intuitions, gut instincts, feelings, and hunches. (No judgements allowed!)

Yellow Hat – Values : A yellow hat approach to the problem examines the benefits of the different alternatives with the accompanying consequences, allowing you to look at the feasibility and the reasons for optimism underlying each idea.

Black Hat – Caution: This is the amber light hat. When you put on the black hat, you are focusing on the potential difficulties and problems, what doesn’t fit, and the consequences of each alternative, including why each idea may not work.

Green Hat – Solutions! The green hat invites you to focus on new ideas and possibilities within creativity to find a solution. You want to maintain a non-judgmental attitude to promote creativity flowing freely.

Blue Hat – Managing : This hat looks at how you manage the thinking process itself – how you choose your next steps, how you manage your action plans, and how you evaluate the solutions and conclusions. You will want to keep everyone focused on the topic while wearing the blue hat, remembering the goal.

Can you see where, outside of this process, if you have someone figuratively wearing a blue hat and someone else wearing a black or a green hat, this could create a whole series of challenges in communication?

Even though each person is talking about the same problem, their different assumptions and different ways of processing their hat can result in some very messed up communications. You know, the kind that can go something like this: ‘I know you think you understand what you thought I said, but I’m not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant’ (Alan Greenspan).

Alternatively, when the Six Hat information is acknowledged by all and used methodically, all six hats get their turn being addressed in parallel fashion, the process ensures a systematic overview of each method of focusing on the issue at hand, resulting in a smoother communication process and a more thorough assessment of all the viewing points. Result? A more comprehensive problem-solving process, leading to a more robust solution.