What is the purpose of thinking?
Each hat represents a direction of thinking
The Six Hats method emphasizes what can be instead of What is.
White hat Facts Figures Objective Information Truths
Black/Gray Hat Logical Negative Thoughts Risks/dangers Based on past experiences Critical judgments
Green Hat Creative alternatives New ideas Movement rather than judgment Outside the box thinking
Red Hat Emotions/feelings Intuition/hunches No justification First impressions
Yellow Hat Constructive ideas Benefits highlighted Logical support Visionary
Blue Hat Control Focus on tasks Summarization Monitors group
"Putting on" a hat focuses thinking; "switching" hats redirects thinking. With the different parts of the thinking process thus clearly defined, discussions can be better focuses and more productive.