Have you come across the 6 Thinking Hats model of Edward de Bono?  Edward de Bono is acknowledged as a guru, a world authority on teaching thinking as a skill.  In one of his books entitled ‘Six Thinking Hats’, he describes an interesting way in which we can all improve our thinking skills

This model is really helpful for problem solving, decision making and also when running a meeting or indeed any discussions that require clarity of thought.  The beauty of the model is that it is simple and easy to remember and we can use it overtly or covertly.  By this I mean we can use the 6 hats model by sharing the model with others and we all agree to use it to help our discussions.  Or if it is just us that knows the model we can channel others’ thinking on to the same wavelength as our own just with some well chosen words.  First of all let me explain the model.

Thinking is one of the greatest skills which we possess.  Yet it can get in the way sometimes, as some of us think in habitual ways (maybe we all do) and don’t readily explore all the options available to us.  Also whilst one of us is thinking in one mode another may be thinking in a different mode and that can cause confusion in our communication process.
 
The idea of the six hats is to simplify a task by allowing the thinker to concentrate on one thing at a time.  The second benefit of using the thinking hats method is it allows a conscious switch in thinking mode at appropriate times.

Edward de Bono identifies six different modes of thinking that are represented by a different coloured hat each one is important in its own right although it is more likely to be powerful and effective if used separately from the other thinking styles in the first instance. The different types of thinking can then be brought together consciously at decision making stage.

The idea of the hats is interesting, as by ‘putting on a hat’ we assume the associated thinking style and our thoughts and comments are appropriate to that style. In this way we separate out our thinking styles in order to be more effective overall.  Yes, the concept of hats may seem artificial yet this is one of their greatest benefits as they provide a formality and discipline to the everyday skill of thinking.

Click here for a download of the 6 Hats and how to use them