Six Thinking Hats
by Edward de Bono
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Book Reviews of Six Thinking Hats
Book Review: Information Map to Nowhere?
Summary: 4 Stars
De Bono has broken down the steps an individual takes to make a decision and presented it in a way that can be utilized by groups. The importance of the book is to eliminate argument from any decision making process. In argument each side tries to prove their point, allows emotion to get the better of them and in many cases the better arguer (not the better solution) wins in the end.
He uses a very basic image of 6 colored hats and assigned the type of thinking you should accomplish while wearing each hat. For example black hat is cautious and careful, looking for weakness in an idea while yellow hat is positive and uncovers the positives in an idea. The importance is to make sure everyone in a discussion is wearing the same hat at the same time, so as to give focus to a discussion. Depending on what the issue is the hats can be worn in a variety of different orders and it is up to the blue hat to decide what order.
The main problem I have with the book is its conclusion. Throughout the book he refers to an information map and at the end he says that by using the information map the answer suddenly appears to everyone in the room? I think it would have been a great idea to add an additional chapter discussing the information map and how the blue hat thinker could capture the information from the discussion. Obviously there are many techniques available but his book is incomplete without one designed around the 6 Hats. In fact he goes as far as to say if a decision does not jump out at everyone in the room then another method may be required.
I think this book is incredibly usefull for solving discussions that are plaqued by argument. It basically is a method to stop argument and start collaboration.
Overall I would recomend this book as it is a very easy read. It will help you realize when a discussion is turning into an argument and when the Six Hats should be utilized.
Book Review: Best book to avoid argument on meeting
Summary: 4 Stars
The Six Thinking Hats concept from this book is very simple to understand. It is also very simple to use in real life application because "No matter how good we become, we should always want to be better." - Edward de Bono. In Six Thinking Hats the author presents a simple but effective way to become a better thinker. He separates thinking into six distinct modes, represented by six colored "thinking hats". White hat talks about facts, figures, and objective information Red deals with emotions and feelings Black hat deals with logical negative thoughts, Yellow hat deals with positive constructive thoughts, green with creativity and new ideas and lastly Blue deals with control of the other hats and thinking steps. With the different parts of the thinking process thus clearly defined, discussions can be better focuses and more productive. Using real-life situations as examples, Dr de Bono creates scenarios that show how the effective use of "thinking hats" save a lot of time on argument during meeting and lead to more creative thinking, improve communication and thus decision making. Using this method many big companies reduced the time taken for multinational project discussions from thirty days to just two days. Thinking hats other purpose is to eliminate argument which is inefficient, ineffective and extremely slow. Argument was never designed to be constructive. The parallel thinking of the Six Hats method is rapidly replacing argument around the world. Six Thinking Hats clearly illustrates why they have found his ideas essential for their management techniques. This book is simple and easy to read with not so many pages. I really recommend this book.Book Review: An inventive approach to stop endless discussion in meetings
Summary: 4 Stars
Have you ever attended a meeting to resolve an issue and found some of the participants causing havoc simply because they don't share yours and your colleagues point of view? You know, some people always argue and their quite good at it too, so why not let the same people argue your case? With the six thinking hats you can do just that.By putting on a different hat you are obliged to argue the case in question colored by that hat. So the only person who is allowed to be negative has the black hat. The person who wears the yellow hat speaks truly on the behalf of the case. The one with the white hat simply states facts and share objective information. If you feel strongly about something, put on the red hat and say it. When you wear the green hat your role is to generate ideas. And finally blue is the leader handling the hat swapping and the process of reaching a solution.
It is absurdly strange what a colored hat can do to change a person's mind. You won't believe how a negative person will open up when he is put to challenge his own thoughts! And it is in fact a relief having a red hat, because then you h-a-v-e to say what you feel about the issue, an often needed thing to do to clear the air. And the result are evident: You get to know each other a lot better, solving issues faster and thus getting better solutions.
It is of course an advantage that you do this with a group of people which is open-minded and is willing to do such "stupid" thing as wearing hats during a meeting. A bit of preparation and practice is recommended. Enjoy and get better results faster!
Book Review: Teaches the Left Brain and Right Crossover!
Summary: 5 Stars
The Six Thinking Hats is an easy to learn and apply, but powerful method to group decision making. Edward De Bono's common sense approach is both refreshing and insightful.
The Six Thinking Hats helps people use both their left and right brains efficiently by separating them into compartments (Thinking Hats). In other words, De Bono teaches how to achieve a strong Left Brain, Right Brain Crossover.
Each of the hats uses part of the left, or the right brain.
* The White Hat addresses facts and data -Left Brain
* The Red Hat addresses emotions - Right Brain
* The Black Hat addresses the weaknesses in ideas- Left Brain
* The Yellow Hat is hopeful and positive - Right Brain
* The Green Hat addresses creativity -Right Brain
* The Blue Hat is concerned with control -Left Brain
By separating thought patterns into compartments De Bono argues convincingly it is easier to come to rational conclusions for solving problems based on all aspects of the brain. In the Conclusion of the book he states:
"The biggest enemy of thinking is complexity, for that leads to confusion. When thinking is clear and simple, it becomes more enjoyable and more effective. The Six Thinking Hats concept is very simple to understand. It is also very simple to use."
Overall a fascinating and useful thinking tool for solving problems!
The Re-Discovery of Common Sense: A Guide to: The Lost Art of Critical Thinking
Book Review: Thinking, no...parliamentary procedure, yes
Summary: 3 Stars
If you're looking for a book which will give you new ideas into the thinking process, Six Thinking Hats really misses the mark. The concept it introduces is more of a procedure that's used in larger groups to guide the discussion. It shows an interesting way of leading a group discussion. As a moderator's guide, it would work well. If you're moderating a large group discussion, it's easier to say "take off your black hat and replace it with a yellow hat" than to say "your negativity is distracting the group and keeping us off point". Interestingly, the blue hat is the control hat, and represents what a moderator would do. However, there is very little material on the blue hat. That seems sort of at odds with the message of the book.
Also, the author really engages in hyperbole saying how great the six hats are. The most interesting hat is the green hat, as under the green hat all ideas are valid and creativity can flourish. Regrettably, in the chapters on the green hat the author strays off topic and goes into detail about the various phrases he coined, and how they got introduced into the dictionary, etc. The self-admiration gets distracting at times. To sum up, this is not a how-to guide on thinking, innovation or creativity. Where it is valuable is in offering a procedure on guiding workshops or large groups, where the ultimate result is (hopefully) great ideas. A worthwhile read, yes - but not quite as groundbreaking as the author indicates.