EDWARD DE BONO’S
SIX HATS OF THINKING
Teaching students to brainstorm, formulate
arguments, and make sound decisions.
Who is Edward DeBono?
• International authority in the field of creative thinking,
innovation, and the direct teaching of thinking as a
skill.
• Rhodes Scholar at Oxford and has held faculty
appointments at the universities of Oxford,
Cambridge, London and Harvard.
• He is an M.D. with a Ph.D. in psychology and
physiology.
• de Bono's medical background in biological
information systems inspired and enabled him not
only to teach thinking but also to design thinking
methods.
• Methods are based on a fundamental understanding of
how the brain handles information
• They are designed to be very simple and practical,
and are utilized by people of all ages and professions,
including Nobel Prize laureates and corporate
executives at some of the world's largest
organizations.
• Dr. de Bono has written more than 80 books that have
been translated into over 40 languages. Titles include
classics such as Six Thinking Hats, Lateral Thinking,
Serious Creativity, Six Value Medals, and Simplicity.
Who Needs Six Thinking Hats?
Anyone who wants:
• A meeting facilitation tool that surfaces hidden agendas and
achieves objectives without conflict
• A way to make sure that all sides of an issue are addressed
• A tool that works well in different cultures around the world
• A sharpened ability to think clearly, objectively, systematically, and
creatively
de Bono’s process
Blue Hat is for
norms and social
control.
It is a review.
It is invoked as refers.
For the nonlinear thinkers
WHICH HAT DO YOU
FAVOR?
(I like green!)
Classroom use
• whole class (best way to start)
• assign roles (great way to hear new voices and
perspectives)
• assign groups (great way to teach debate team skills)
• individual responses wearing all hats (demonstrates
independent mastery)
• *great way to handle difficult topics*
LET’S TRY THE PROCESS!
Pose a question to begin.
White hat
• information
• facts and figures
Red Hat
• feelings
• fears & passions
• intuitions
Yellow Hat
• optimism
• best scenarios
• benefits
• positive thinking
Black Hat
• risks
• obstacles
• weaknesses
• downside
• potential problems
Green Hat
• creative thinking
• alternative solutions
• define & redevelop ideas
We wear the Red Hat so well!
Let’s wear it one more time!
How are we feeling about
…the process?
….the outcome?
Blue Hat
• process control
• focus
• big idea
• process
• agenda
• summary
• time management
Group Reflection
What conclusions
or summaries can
we make?
de Bono’s process
Now the trick to
being a great problem-solver is
knowing when to wear what hat!
