The 6 Thinking Hats: A Classic and Colourful Framework for Clearer Thinking and Collaboration
Elena Scaramellini
Executive Trainer I Senior Project Manager I Organisational Change Manager
Have you ever found yourself stuck when trying to decide between two options, validate a new idea, or make sense of a tricky project?
What if there was a structured way to consider every angle without getting overwhelmed?
The 6 Thinking Hats method, created by Edward de Bono, is a practical tool for analysing ideas, making decisions, and solving problems.
This reliable method has stood the test of time, proving its value across decades and evolving industries.
It is a classic approach that remains just as relevant today, helping individuals and teams break free from their default mindset, pause, reflect, and truly see every idea or decision from every angle.
What makes it unique is its use of six distinct colours, each representing a specific style of thinking.
These colours help you switch modes of thinking deliberately.
When you “wear” a specific colour hat, you embody its role. The colour acts as a visual cue for the type of thinking required. And, the role helps you focus, knowing that all other perspectives will be addressed later.
These "hats" are not literal—users metaphorically "put on" each hat to view a situation or idea through its unique lens.
Edward de Bono's 6 Thinking Hats is a simple yet profound framework to decision-making, innovation, and collaboration.
How Do They Work?
The 6 Thinking Hats represent six distinct ways of thinking. Each hat focuses on a specific perspective, helping us analyse ideas systematically and creatively.
The White Hat represents your neutral, objective side. It focuses on the facts you already know, the information you still need, and how to gather it. This hat allows you to look at the situation without emotion or bias, strictly relying on data to guide the discussion. For instance, when considering a business idea, you might ask, "What does the market research say about this opportunity?"
The Red Hat brings feelings and intuition to the forefront. It gives you permission to express emotions and instincts without needing to justify them logically. This hat is particularly useful for uncovering gut reactions or initial impressions. A typical reflection while wearing this hat might be, "I feel excited about this project, but I also have a gut feeling there’s something missing."
The Black Hat takes on the role of caution and risk assessment. It is your critical thinker, helping to identify potential flaws, downsides, or obstacles in the plan. This hat ensures that you are prepared for challenges by asking questions like, "What could go wrong if we launch this now?"
The Yellow Hat is your optimistic side, shining a light on the potential benefits and opportunities of an idea. It emphasises positivity and possibilities, encouraging you to imagine the best outcomes. Wearing this hat, you might think, "What’s the best-case scenario if this idea succeeds?"
The Green Hat fosters creativity, innovation, and out-of-the-box thinking. It is the source of fresh ideas and alternative approaches, pushing you to explore new possibilities. A green hat question could be, "What if we partnered with another company to make this even bigger?"
Finally, the Blue Hat manages the overall process. It ensures structure and organization, keeping everyone focused and guiding the flow of thinking. This hat acts as a roadmap, often prompting statements like, "Let’s start with the facts and move on to risks afterward."
This method encourages a balanced and thorough approach, instead of getting stuck in one perspective (e.g., overly optimistic or overly cautious).
Together, these hats create a powerful framework for structured, balanced, and dynamic thinking. By "wearing" each hat in turn, you can thoroughly analyse any idea or decision from all angles.
Why Use The 6 Thinking Hats?
We often get stuck in one way of thinking.
Maybe you are naturally optimistic but overlook risks, or you are highly cautious and never make bold moves.
The 6 Thinking Hats ensure you are not limited by your default mindset.
For instance, when validating a business idea, instead of relying on gut instinct or endless analysis, you can address every angle systematically. What are the facts? What is your instinct? What are the risks and benefits?
Another example would be when planning a team project. Instead of arguing, your team takes turns "wearing" each hat. This way, even skeptics are encouraged to think positively, and optimists must consider potential risks.
By consciously wearing one hat at a time, you avoid confusion and bias. It is like giving your brain a map to follow.
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Applying The Hats In Teams And Organisations
In organisations, the 6 Thinking Hats can transform meetings, decision-making, and creative processes.
Imagine your next brainstorming session with your team where:
This method ensures that every team member’s voice is heard and every perspective considered. It reduces groupthink and helps prevent conflict because the process is collaborative, not combative.
It can be a great tool for team collaboration!
Personal Applications: Making Sense Of Life
The 6 Thinking Hats are not just for work; they are also powerful for personal decisions.
Let us say you are contemplating a major life change, like moving to a new city or starting a business. The hats help you navigate the complexities, for example:
This structured way of thinking gives clarity and balance to decisions that might otherwise feel overwhelming.
Inspiring Examples Of Success
Some of the most innovative organisations use the 6 Thinking Hats.
Tech giants like Google encourage creative brainstorming sessions using these principles, while schools apply them to teach kids critical thinking.
It has even been used in healthcare, helping medical teams make critical, balanced decisions under pressure.
This structured, balanced thinking is not just a theoretical tool—it is a practical approach that can drive meaningful results in diverse, real-world situations.
By embracing the 6 Thinking Hats, any team or individual can unlock clearer insights, better solutions, and greater confidence in their decision-making process.
I personally believe that beauty of the 6 Thinking Hats lies in their simplicity and power.
They provide a roadmap for thinking—not just for individuals but for teams, families, and organisations.
They help us pause, reflect, and truly see an idea or decision from every angle.
So, the next time you are stuck, put on a hat. Better yet, put on all six. You will be amazed at the clarity, creativity, and confidence that follow.
Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything. – George Bernard Shaw
Let us embrace the power of thinking differently—one hat at a time.
Elena Scaramellini
Founder & Executive Trainer
If you are interested to learn more about this topic, or would like us to help you with critical thinking and collaboration within your team or organisation, Contact us today to see how we can help! Follow us to learn more and share this article if you have found it useful!