Making decisions—whether in business, education, or everyday life—can be tough. Sometimes, discussions go in circles, people talk over each other, and important ideas get lost. That’s where the Six Thinking Hats method comes in.
This guide will walk you through how the Six Thinking Hats work, how to use them effectively, and why they can make your meetings, brainstorming sessions, and decision-making processes smoother and more productive. Whether you’re leading a team, working on a project, or just looking for a better way to solve problems, this method can help you see things from every angle and reach smarter conclusions.
What Is the Six Thinking Hats Technique
The Six Thinking Hats technique is a method that helps people approach problems and decisions in a structured way. It breaks down thinking into six different types, each represented by a “hat.” Each hat focuses on a specific way of thinking, allowing people to look at an issue from multiple perspectives. This technique is useful for individuals and teams who want to think more clearly, consider all angles, and make better decisions.
By “wearing” each hat, participants can take a balanced, well-rounded approach to thinking and decision-making. Instead of getting stuck on one perspective, the method promotes open-mindedness, collaboration, and a more thorough exploration of ideas. Whether you’re working alone or in a group, the Six Thinking Hats technique helps create better discussions and more informed decisions.
What Are the Six Thinking Hats
The Six Thinking Hats method gives you a way to think about problems, ideas, and decisions from different perspectives. Each hat represents a different style of thinking, and switching between them helps you see things more clearly and make better decisions. Let’s break down what are the six thinking hats and what each hat brings to the table along with some six thinking hats questions you can use:
White hat: information
The White Hat focuses on the facts and available data. It’s all about gathering what is known and identifying any information gaps. You wear the white hat when you want to look at the situation logically, relying only on verifiable data and neutral facts. This hat helps ensure that decisions are based on evidence rather than assumptions or emotions.
Questions to ask when wearing the White Hat:
- What do we know for sure?
- What data do we have available?
- What information is missing?
- What are the facts surrounding this issue?
- What do we need to find out to move forward?
Red hat: emotions
The Red Hat represents emotions, intuition, and gut reactions. When you wear this hat, you’re encouraged to acknowledge your feelings and the feelings of others without needing to justify them. Emotions often influence decisions, so this hat helps bring those emotions to the surface, allowing you to consider how personal biases and emotions might impact your judgment.
Questions to ask when wearing the Red Hat:
- How do I feel about this situation?
- What’s my gut reaction?
- What emotions are others experiencing about this issue?
- Is there any personal bias affecting the decision?
- What emotional factors are important to consider?
Black hat: caution
The Black Hat focuses on caution, risks, and potential problems. When wearing the black hat, you critically evaluate the situation and point out any possible downsides. This hat helps you see the limitations, obstacles, and potential challenges that might be overlooked. It’s a way to ensure you’re making a decision that accounts for risks and drawbacks, which can prevent future issues.
Questions to ask when wearing the Black Hat:
- What could go wrong with this idea or plan?
- What are the risks or challenges we might face?
- Are there any potential obstacles that we haven’t considered?
- What are the logical reasons to be cautious?
- How can we minimize the negative outcomes?
Yellow hat: optimism
The Yellow Hat is all about optimism, positivity, and potential benefits. Wearing this hat encourages you to see the value and advantages of an idea or decision. It helps you focus on the possibilities and benefits, highlighting what might work well and the opportunities for success. This is important because it helps keep discussions balanced by ensuring you don’t focus too much on problems or risks.
Questions to ask when wearing the Yellow Hat:
- What are the benefits of this idea or plan?
- What’s the positive outcome we expect from this decision?
- How can this decision bring value to the team or organization?
- What’s the best-case scenario here?
- What are the strengths and advantages of this approach?
Green hat: creativity
The Green Hat represents creativity and the exploration of new ideas. This hat encourages you to think outside the box and generate alternative solutions. When wearing the green hat, you’re free to brainstorm, propose new ideas, and explore innovative approaches to solving the problem. It’s all about pushing boundaries and coming up with fresh concepts that might not have been thought of before.
Questions to ask when wearing the Green Hat:
- What new ideas can we consider?
- What alternative solutions can we explore?
- How can we approach this situation in a creative way?
- What innovative methods can we try?
- Are there any unconventional ideas that could work?
Blue hat: process control
The Blue Hat is the one that manages the thinking process. It’s all about keeping the discussion focused, organized, and on track. When you wear the blue hat, you control the flow of the conversation, making sure everyone is using the other hats appropriately. The blue hat also involves summarizing discussions and setting action plans, ensuring that decisions are made in an orderly and structured way.
Questions to ask when wearing the Blue Hat:
- How should we organize our discussion?
- What steps do we need to take next?
- Are we sticking to the thinking process and using all the hats?
- What are the key takeaways from this discussion?
- What action steps should we follow up with after this meeting?
How to Use the Six Thinking Hats
Now that you know what the six thinking hats are, let’s look at how to use them.
Using the Six Thinking Hats method involves switching between different modes of thinking to approach a problem or decision from various perspectives. Here’s how to use them effectively:
Step 1. Set the context
Before starting, define the issue or decision you want to focus on. Whether you’re solving a problem, brainstorming ideas, or making a decision, clearly stating the objective helps guide the conversation and ensures all participants are on the same page.
Step 2. Assign hats (optional)
If you’re working in a group, you can assign each participant a specific hat to wear, or take turns switching hats. You can either have someone wear a single hat for a set period or switch hats periodically, depending on the discussion flow.
Step 3. Use the hats one by one
Each hat represents a different type of thinking. Follow this order to keep things structured:
- White Hat - Start by focusing on the facts. Discuss the available data and identify gaps in information that need to be filled.
- Red Hat - Let participants express their feelings and intuitive responses. There are no wrong answers here—just encourage everyone to share their emotional reactions.
- Black Hat - Look at the potential risks, challenges, and negative outcomes. Think critically about the problems or obstacles that could arise.
- Yellow Hat - Focus on the positives. Look at the potential benefits and value that can come from this decision. Encourage the group to see the bright side.
- Green Hat - Brainstorm new ideas and creative solutions. Encourage innovative thinking and explore all possible alternatives.
- Blue Hat (Process Control) - Throughout the discussion, the Blue Hat ensures the process is running smoothly. It manages the overall thinking process, summarizes key points, and sets the next steps.
Step 4. Switch hats as needed
Switch between hats as the conversation progresses. For example, after exploring the facts (White Hat), you might need to switch to the Red Hat to understand emotional responses or move to the Green Hat to brainstorm creative solutions. You can even go back to a previous hat if new information or perspectives arise.
Step 5. Encourage full participation
Whether working alone or in a group, make sure each hat gets equal attention. If you’re working with others, encourage everyone to speak from different hats and listen to each perspective.
Step 6. Summarize and decide
Once all hats have been considered, the Blue Hat helps you summarize the discussion and outline the next steps. This ensures that the decision-making process is clear, balanced, and well thought out.
Step 7. Take action
After the discussion, use the insights gathered from each hat to take informed action. The final decision should reflect a thorough evaluation of the facts, feelings, risks, benefits, creativity, and the overall process.
Tips for success:
- Stay flexible: You can adjust how long you spend on each hat based on the complexity of the discussion.
- Create a safe environment: Especially for the Red Hat, make sure people feel comfortable expressing their emotions without judgment.
- Use it for more than just meetings: The Six Thinking Hats can also be useful in personal decision-making, problem-solving, or brainstorming alone.
Six Thinking Hats Templates
Six Thinking Hats templates make using the method easier by giving you a clear structure to follow. These templates help you stay organized and ensure you consider every perspective—whether you’re working alone or in a group. In this section, we’ll share some templates to help you understand what are six thinking hats which will help you think more clearly and make better decisions using the technique
Six Thinking Hats Template
Six Thinking Hats Mind Map Template
Six Thinking Hats Template for Brainstorming
Simple Six Thinking Hats Template
6 Thinking Hats
Six Thinking Hats Example
Let’s say your team is deciding whether to launch a new product. Using the Six Thinking Hats method, each person would approach the decision from a different angle. Here’s how it could work:
White hat (information)
Start by gathering all the facts.
- What market research do we have?
- What are the costs involved in launching this product?
- What are the sales trends in similar products?
Red hat (emotions)
Next, express how people feel about the idea without needing to explain why.
- “I feel excited about the new product!”
- “I’m nervous about the competition.”
- “I have a gut feeling it could succeed, but I’m not sure.”
Black hat (caution)
Think about potential risks and what could go wrong.
- “We might face supply chain issues.”
- “The product could be expensive to market.”
- “What if consumers don’t respond well to it?”
Yellow hat (optimism)
Now, look at the positive side of the decision.
- “This product could fill a gap in the market.”
- “It’s a chance to strengthen our brand.”
- “We could attract new customers with this launch.”
Green hat (creativity)
Encourage creative ideas and solutions.
- “Can we add unique features that no one else offers?”
- “What about a limited edition version to create buzz?”
- “Could we partner with influencers to reach more people?”
Blue hat (process control)
Finally, manage the thinking process and summarize.
- “Let’s review the pros and cons we discussed.”
- “What action steps do we need to take to move forward?”
- “Let’s decide who will handle research and the marketing strategy.”
By using the Six Thinking Hats, your team can look at the decision from every angle—data, emotions, risks, opportunities, creative solutions, and the process itself. This helps make more thoughtful, balanced decisions.
History of the Six Thinking Hats
The Six Thinking Hats method was created by Dr. Edward de Bono, a psychologist and expert in creative thinking. Dr. de Bono developed this technique in the 1980s to help people think more effectively and make better decisions.
His goal was to find a way to make thinking more organized and less chaotic, especially in group settings. Instead of having everyone throw out ideas at once and risk getting overwhelmed, he introduced the idea of wearing “hats” that represent different types of thinking.
Each hat symbolizes a different approach—like focusing on facts, emotions, or creative ideas. By wearing one hat at a time, everyone can stay on track and look at problems from multiple angles without getting sidetracked.
Over time, the Six Thinking Hats method gained popularity in business, education, and other fields, as it helped teams make clearer, more balanced decisions. Today, it’s used around the world by individuals and groups who want to improve their thinking and collaboration.
The method’s simplicity and flexibility make it an easy tool to use whenever you need to think through a problem, plan a project, or make an important decision.
When to Use the Six Thinking Hats
The Six Thinking Hats method is helpful in a lot of different situations. Here are some times when it can really make a difference:
1. In Team meetings
If you want to make sure everyone in the room is on the same page, the Six Thinking Hats method is a great way to guide the conversation. It helps keep discussions focused, organized, and balanced, so every perspective is considered. Whether you’re brainstorming ideas, solving problems, or planning a project, this method can help make meetings more productive.
2. Making important decisions
Big decisions can be tricky, especially when there are a lot of factors to consider. The Six Thinking Hats method helps you look at the situation from all angles—what’s the data, what are the risks, what do people feel about it, and what are the creative possibilities? This thorough approach leads to smarter, more well-rounded decisions.
3. Brainstorming ideas
If you’re stuck in a creative rut or need fresh ideas, the Green Hat (the creativity hat) can help unlock new ways of thinking. By using all six hats, you can come up with a variety of solutions to a problem, some of which you might not have thought of otherwise.
4. Handling conflicting views
Sometimes, team members may have strong, differing opinions. The Six Thinking Hats method allows everyone to express their views in a structured way. For example, the Black Hat can help voice concerns, while the Yellow Hat can highlight the positives. By taking turns wearing each hat, it’s easier to understand each other’s perspectives and find common ground.
5. Strategic planning or problem-solving
When working on long-term goals or tackling complex issues, the Six Thinking Hats method ensures that you cover every aspect of the situation. This method is especially useful when planning a strategy, because it helps you anticipate challenges, come up with solutions, and stay focused on what’s important.
7 Benefits of the Six Thinking Hats
The Six Thinking Hats method isn’t just a fancy technique; it brings real value to how you think and work together as a team. Here’s how it can make a big difference:
1. Clearer thinking
When everyone wears a different hat, it’s easier to focus on one thing at a time. Whether you’re looking at facts, exploring ideas, or considering risks, each hat brings clarity and direction to the discussion.
2. Balanced participation
In meetings, some people might dominate the conversation, while others hold back. The Six Thinking Hats method encourages everyone to contribute equally by assigning a “hat” to each person. This ensures that everyone’s voice is heard and respected.
3. Better decision-making
By exploring a topic from different perspectives—facts, emotions, creativity, risks, and more—you’re more likely to see the whole picture. This leads to better, more thoughtful decisions that take all angles into account.
4. Encourages creativity
The Green Hat, for example, is all about creativity and new ideas. It helps teams think outside the box and come up with innovative solutions they might not have considered otherwise.
5. Reduces conflict
When people express their emotions or concerns while wearing the Red Hat (without judgment), it’s easier to talk about feelings or disagreements without the conversation turning into a conflict. It helps separate personal opinions from logical thinking, making discussions more productive.
6. More efficient meetings
Instead of going back and forth without structure, the Six Thinking Hats method keeps meetings organized and focused. By assigning specific roles and time for each hat, the discussion stays on track, saving time and energy.
7. Fosters collaboration
This method encourages a team effort. Everyone contributes in a unique way, and together, you build a richer, more complete understanding of the problem or idea at hand.
Common Challenges of Using the Six Thinking Hats
While the Six Thinking Hats method is a powerful tool, it’s not without its challenges. Here’s how to deal with a few common issues:
1. Overemphasis on one hat
Sometimes, teams can get stuck on one way of thinking. Maybe everyone focuses too much on the Black Hat (risks) or the Red Hat (emotions), and the other perspectives get overlooked.
How to fix it: Make sure each hat gets equal time. The facilitator should keep an eye on the clock and gently guide the group to move through all six hats. This ensures you’re considering all angles, not just the ones that feel most comfortable.
2. Difficulty adopting certain perspectives
It can be tricky for people to switch their thinking, especially when it’s outside their comfort zone. Some may struggle with the creative Green Hat, while others might find it hard to focus on just facts with the White Hat.
How to fix it: Give everyone clear examples of what each hat represents, and encourage an open-minded approach. Remind the team that it’s okay to step outside your usual thinking pattern—it’s all part of the process. The more they practice, the easier it becomes.
3. Dominance by specific participants
In some meetings, certain people might naturally take over the conversation, which can limit input from others. This can happen even with the Six Thinking Hats method.
How to fix it: The facilitator should make sure everyone gets a chance to contribute. One way to do this is by calling on people specifically to share their thoughts while they’re wearing a certain hat. This way, everyone is included, and no one dominates the conversation.
Using the Six Thinking Hats with Creately
Creately makes it easy to use the Six Thinking Hats method with its intuitive features. Here’s how you can make the most of Creately to guide your decision-making process:
1. Create a dedicated diagram
With Creately, you can start by creating a new diagram specifically for the Six Thinking Hats method. Choose a template or create your own layout that clearly shows the six hats in a visual format.
2. Color-coded shapes for each hat
Creately allows you to color-code your ideas, which is perfect for distinguishing between each thinking hat. Assign a specific color to each hat (e.g., white for facts, red for emotions) so everyone can visually separate each perspective.
3. Add text and sticky notes
For each hat, you can easily add text boxes or sticky notes to capture your thoughts. Whether you’re gathering facts (White Hat), exploring emotions (Red Hat), or generating creative ideas (Green Hat), simply type in your insights or thoughts in the corresponding section of your diagram.
4. Collaborate with your team
Creately supports real-time collaboration, so you and your team can work together simultaneously. This is great for brainstorming, sharing emotions or concerns, and generating ideas in the same workspace. You can even leave comments and feedback, ensuring everyone’s perspective is heard. And you can use Creately’s voting feature to help prioritize the most important ideas.
5. Easily move and organize ideas
Creately’s drag-and-drop functionality lets you move ideas around easily. If you come up with new insights or need to reorganize your thoughts, simply click and drag elements on your diagram. This makes it simple to adapt your thinking as the conversation develops.
6. Summarize with action plans
Once you’ve gone through each of the six hats, you can use Creately’s tools to create an action plan or summary. Organize tasks, assign responsibilities, and map out the next steps—all in the same diagram.
Conclusion: What Are the Six Thinking Hats?
What are the Six Thinking Hats? They are a powerful decision-making tool that helps you approach problems and choices from different perspectives. By using each hat—whether it’s focusing on the facts, emotions, risks, opportunities, creativity, or the process—you can gain a more balanced and well-rounded view of the situation. Whether you’re working alone or in a team, the Six Thinking Hats method encourages deeper thinking and avoids jumping to conclusions.
What are the Six Thinking Hats? They help you make decisions that are thoughtful, creative, and based on a full understanding of the issue at hand. So, next time you’re facing a tough decision, try using the Six Thinking Hats technique and see what new insights it brings. The more you practice, the easier it will be to make informed and effective decisions.
References
Setyaningtyas, E.W. and Radia, E.H. (2019). Six Thinking Hats Method for Developing Critical Thinking Skills. Journal of Educational Science and Technology (EST), [online] 5(1), p.82. doi:https://doi.org/10.26858/est.v5i1.8243.
Göçmen, Ö. and Coşkun, H. (2019). The effects of the six thinking hats and speed on creativity in brainstorming. Thinking Skills and Creativity, [online] 31(1), pp.284–295. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tsc.2019.02.006.
Karmakar, P. and Chattopadhyay, K.N. (2024). Six Thinking Hats: A Educational Technique to Enhance Cognitive Abilities in Education. Asian Journal of Education and Social Studies, [online] 50(1), pp.167–173. doi:https://doi.org/10.9734/ajess/2024/v50i11247.
FAQs about Six Thinking Hats
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