1. What is the purpose of thinking?

2. Each hat represents a direction of thinking

3. The Six Hats method emphasizes what can be instead of What is.

4. White hat Facts Figures Objective Information Truths

5. Black/Gray Hat Logical Negative Thoughts Risks/dangers Based on past experiences Critical judgments

6. Green Hat Creative alternatives New ideas Movement rather than judgment Outside the box thinking

7. Red Hat Emotions/feelings Intuition/hunches No justification First impressions

8. Yellow Hat Constructive ideas Benefits highlighted Logical support Visionary

9. Blue Hat Control Focus on tasks Summarization Monitors group

10. "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.