Chapter 7 Six Hats, Six ColorsBy Edward de Bono

Revised by Sierra Holsbeke

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• Remembering the function of each hat is easy• Remember color and association• Remember these 3 pairs

white & red (neutral vs. emotion)black & yellow (negative vs. positive)green & blue ( creativity vs. organization)

• In practice the hats are ALWAYS referred to  by their color NEVER by their function.

• That is to achieve a more honest/ neutral answer with no embarrassment

Six Hats, Six Colors

Each of the six thinking hats has a color: white, red, black, yellow, green, blue.

The color provided the name for that hat.

The color of each hat is also related to its function.

More information from deBono...

• I could have chosen Greek and it would have been fancier but it would be difficult to remember the hats’ names

• I want thinkers to visualize and to imagine the hats as actual hats, for that color is important

The white hat

• Neutral and objective.

• Concerned with the objective facts and figures.

The red hat

• Suggests anger (seeing red)

• Gives an emotional view

The black hat

• Black gloomy and negative.

• Covers the negative aspects - why it can't be done

The yellow hat

• Sunny and positive

• Optimistic 

• Covers hope and positive thinking

The green hat

•  Grass

•  Vegetation

•  Abundant fertile growth

•  Indicates creativity and new ideas

The blue hat

• Cool

• Color of the sky, which is above everything else 

• Concerned with control 

• Organization of the thinking process

Conclusion

Therefore every thinking aspect should be taken into consideration and carefully thought out.

No matter what color your hat is, you should always be thinking of others and your impact on them and the world.