Edward de Bono’s 6 Thinking Hats

The Red Hat

• signifies caution and critical thinking

• ensures that the 'Six Thinking Hats' guidelines are observed.

• signifies feelings, hunches and intuition

• controls the sequence of thinking

The Green Hat

• covers facts, figures, data and information.

• calls for information known or needed.

• symbolizes brightness and optimism.

• Focuses on creativity, possibilities, alternatives and new ideas.

The Blue Hat

• allows you to consider your proposals critically and logically.

• is used to manage the thinking process.

• allows you to look for benefits, feasibility and how something can be done.

• is used to reflect on why a suggestion does not fit the facts.

The White Hat

• allows feelings to come into the discussion without pretending to be anything else.

• makes time and space available to focus on creative thinking.

• allows you to put forward your feelings and intuitions.

• Calls for information known or needed – gathering just the facts.

The Black hat

• is concerned with meta-cognition

• signifies caution and critical thinking - do not overuse!

• is for organizing and controlling the thinking process

• is to express new concepts and new perceptions

The Yellow Hat

• covers intuition, feelings, hunches and emotions.

• makes time and space available to focus on creative thinking.

• symbolizes brightness and optimism.

• is the most used hat and possibly the most useful hat.