Six thinking hats (Wisefour-03-EN)

Six thinking hats

Group work, discussion, trainer’s input

Six hats of different colours (white, red, black, yellow, blue, green)

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10’-15’

Crucial to the method is that the process is done in a disciplined manner, and that all participants play along and contribute in parallel. Thus the trainer must be experienced and ensure that each participant sticks to the specific track.

Six Thinking Hats was written by Dr. Edward de Bono. The "Six Thinking Hats" technique and the associated idea of parallel thinking provide a means for groups to plan thinking processes in a detailed and cohesive way, and in doing so to think together more effectively. Parallel thinking is defined as a thinking process where focus is split in specific directions. When done in a group it effectively avoids the consequences of the adversarial approach. In Parallel Thinking, the trainer puts forward as many statements as possible in several (preferably more than two) parallel tracks. This leads to exploration of a subject where all participants can contribute, in parallel, with knowledge, facts, feelings, etc.

References:

Edward De Bono, Parallel thinking: from Socratic thinking to de Bono thinking, Viking 1994 ISBN 0-670-85126-4

David Moseley, Vivienne Baumfield, Julian Elliott, Frameworks for thinking: a handbook for teaching and learning, Cambridge University Press 2005, ISBN 0-521-84831-8

Through this method/action, these benefits are achieved:

• Making better decisions by having a more holistic and wide ranging view of the problem.
• Approaching problems from various angles of facts, emotions and creativity.
• Inspiring idea generation as an ice-breaker activity by having different people play different roles.
• More collaboration during brainstorming and decision making with assigned roles including facilitator responsibilities.
• Running better and more structured meetings especially if there tends to only be a single view at every meeting.

Step 1

The trainer gathers all participants around a table and brings up a topic for discussion that involves decision making. He then asks participants to wear different hats, or to navigate between the hats around this goal.

Each "Thinking Hat" represents a different style of thinking:

• White Hat: Similar to the calm and pure emotions associated with the colour white, this type of thinking focuses on analytical, objective thinking, with an emphasis on facts and feasibility.

The participant asks questions like:

"What information do I have available?"

"How reliable is my current information?"

"How could I get information about this?"

"What information would be useful?"

• Red Hat: We often associate the colour red with anger and heat and hence this represents emotional thinking, subjective feelings, perception, and opinion.

The participant asks questions like:

"How do I feel about this idea?"

"What is my gut feeling?"

“How does this impact me?"

“How do I think people will respond?"

• Black Hat: The colour black has been stereotypically linked with doom and gloom and so this forms a type of thinking that is critical, sceptical, focused on risks, and identifying problems.

The participant asks questions like:

"How could this go wrong?"

"Which part of this is most likely to fail?"

"What is the worst thing that could happen?"

"How much risk is there in this?"

"Who will this affect most badly?"

• Yellow Hat: Often symbolising sunshine and happiness, the yellow hat is about thinking optimistic, speculative, best-case scenarios.

The participant asks questions like:

"What would I gain from using this approach?"

"How would things be if this did work?"

"What is the most attractive thing about doing it this way?"

"In a perfect world, where do I think this would take me?"

• Blue Hat: Blue being the colour of the sky and high above creates a sense of structured thinking, high-level overview of the situation, the big picture.

The participant asks questions like:

"What exactly am I considering here?"

"How am I doing with this issue?"

"Could I summarise where I've got to?"

"Which hat would help me most here?"

• Green Hat: Associated with the colour of trees and nature, the green hat is about creative, associative thinking, new ideas, brainstorming, out-of-the-box.

The participant asks questions like:

"What are the alternatives?"

"How could I do this differently?"

"Could there be another explanation?"

"What would be a really novel solution?"

Step 2

Having identified the six modes of thinking that can be accessed, distinct programs can be created. These are sequences of hats which encompass and structure the thinking process toward a distinct goal. Sequences always begin and end with a blue hat. The group agrees together how they will think, then they do the thinking, then they evaluate the outcomes of that thinking and what they should do next. Each hat is typically used for approximately 2 minutes at a time – although at the start of the process an extended white hat session is common to get everyone onto the same page.

Stauriana Kouskouvelakou

https://www.artoopaspartoo.gr/

artsoot@gmail.com

Stauriana Kouskouvelakou studied the art of theatre at the Drama School in Thessaloniki and Athens. She attended seminars in music-kinetic education, theatrical improvisation, Alexander technique, Commedia dell'Arte, theatrical acting and directing. She has worked in the theatre for several years and has appeared in television and cinema. While watching a puppet show, she met and fell in love with puppetry. She was taught how to make and animate a puppet by professional puppetry teachers, as she participated in seminars and workshops on special puppet making techniques, making a puppet in yarn, black theatre technique, performance lighting, etc. For over a decade, she has been involved in puppetry, have collaborated with professional troupes, while since 2009 she is a founding member of the ArtooPaspartoo group, and together with Spyros Karras, they create puppet shows.

The artist offers the workshop by request, and those who are interested please contact the artist.

Performing Arts

Greek