Book Summary Preview : Six Thinking Hats

The Big Idea
Confusion is the biggest enemy of good thinking. Simplicity is the key. “When thinking is clear and simple, it becomes more enjoyable and more effective.”

The Six Thinking Hats method is very easy to understand and therefore, simple to use. This tool can be used no matter how big or small your organization is, to create a more creative atmosphere, improve communication and train people to use a clearer way of thinking.

A hat is something you can easily put on and take off. The hats are visual cues for us to allow an easy switch in our modes of thinking. The wonderful thing about this method is that it can be taught to children as well as top executives!

The New Yardstick
We have to train our minds into doing one thing at a time. We cannot be emotional, logical, factual, creative, and organized all at the same time. The Six Thinking Hats method lets us focus our thought process and filter out ideas and outputs. Consider this new paradigm.

The Western model of thinking, which is based on argument, is not sufficient to tackle all the different problems we face in most organizations. To design a way forward, a more constructive model of thinking, The Six Hats method or “parallel thinking” is required.

Parallel thinking is looking at something from all of its different angles. Each individual has a unique view of one idea or object. Put people on four different sides of a house and you will see each has his or her own perspective.

Parallel thinking subscribes to the idea that everyone must try looking at the house from the same direction. The object is not to argue your point until you win, but to explore all possibilities or angles of a situation.

When using the Six Hats method, all the parties involved role-play at the appointed time. No one person is assigned to be the Black Hat thinker the entire time. Everyone wears a different hat, and switches to another at the same time.

This method allows people who only focus on arguments and criticism to put on their Green Hats and offer creative solutions, or with their Yellow hats, some optimistic views, for example.

• The Six Hats Method is a time saving approach that cuts down long discussions. E.g. Optus (in Australia) set aside 4 hours for an important discussion. The Six Hats method enabled the team to conclude within 45 minutes.
• The Six Hats method removes the biggest obstacle to quick and effective thinking – the ego. Instead of attacking another person’s idea to show off how clever you are, with the aid of the Six Hats approach, adversarial and confrontational thinking is eliminated because your performance as a thinker can be shown off in how well you utilize each hat. Instead of ego-driven meetings, meetings become more constructive, productive, and move much faster.
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