Thinking Hats Facilitation Guide - Slides Leader Led Activity © 2011 SkillSoft Ireland Limited

Leader Led Activity 2 Six Thinking Hats The concept enables you to evaluate creative ideas rigorously from six very different perspectives. Each colored hat represents a way of thinking about an idea. In a team, every member wears a particular color hat to look at an idea or opportunity. Every member wears the same color hat at the same time. After exploring an idea wearing one color hat, the team then dons another color hat to adopt a different perspective.

Leader Led Activity 3 Thinking Hats The hat colors and their meanings are: Yellow – Explore good points, or benefits, of the idea. The approach should be logical, but optimistic. Green – Propose alternatives to the idea – come up with new solutions or modifications to the idea. Black – Use critical judgment, exploring why something can't be done, areas of caution, or barriers to the idea's implementation.

Leader Led Activity 4 Thinking Hats Red – Avoid being logical while wearing this hat. Discuss instinctive reactions to an idea. White – Concentrate on data and information. Blue – Worn by one person – the chairperson, who sets the agenda, suggests what to focus on, asks for summaries, conclusions, and comments, and decides when the team should swap hat colors.