# Six Thinking Hats by Edward De Bono
Author:: Shortform
## Highlights
> De Bono’s six hats represent the following types of thinking:
> The blue hat is for metacognition, or the overall organization of the thinking process.
> The white hat is for gathering neutral information.
> The red hat is for emotions.
> The black hat is for criticism.
> The yellow hat is for positive feedback and developing solutions.
> The green hat is for new, creative ideas. ([View Highlight](https://www.shortform.com/app/highlights/1ff43821-3f74-4c63-9a0a-176528d3b191))
> The Six Hats method asks you to see thinking as mental exploration in a particular direction. ([View Highlight](https://www.shortform.com/app/highlights/e53b983b-bacd-48b7-a8e2-aef193ab3b11))
> A hat is easy to put on and take off. This mirrors the six different thinking styles, which you can call upon in a flexible and relatively effortless manner. ([View Highlight](https://www.shortform.com/app/highlights/ec02eb86-6ec2-409b-97f4-14f40fd5137f))
> Hats are visually obvious. This signposting function is important in the Six Hats method because you want your current thinking direction to be clear to everyone, including to yourself. By putting on your metaphorical hat, you’re signposting the direction that your thoughts will take. ([View Highlight](https://www.shortform.com/app/highlights/f014b2e1-c5c5-41c0-9007-6b5b38afdf73))
> In the Six Hats system, there are no thinking specialists, no “yellow hat people” or “black hat people.” ([View Highlight](https://www.shortform.com/app/highlights/83767836-33ea-4981-9132-d99fecf00e82))
> Blue hat thinking is metacognition, or thinking about thinking. ([View Highlight](https://www.shortform.com/app/highlights/b1c0b49b-a6ba-4b18-9f6a-e25c8a4f95d2))
> Blue hat data includes planning documents such as agendas, checklists, calendars, and Gantt (project tracking) charts. It also includes final outputs such as reports and overviews. Blue hat contributions include procedural suggestions, comments on the progress of the discussion, and suggestions for next steps. ([View Highlight](https://www.shortform.com/app/highlights/e129aac1-61b6-41c5-9d38-9fd944247ace))
> The first blue hat period is concerned with framing the topic clearly, setting goals for the session, and planning the sequence of hats to be used. The final blue hat period is concerned with creating an overview of the discussion that just took place, finalizing any decisions that remain outstanding, and determining what further action needs to be taken and by whom. ([View Highlight](https://www.shortform.com/app/highlights/fa8000a2-59a3-4204-9061-ff2c090dc67c))
> White hat thinking is the gathering of relevant factual information. The white hat considers what you know about the situation, how reliable this information is, what you don’t yet know, and how you’ll find the missing information. Avoid interpreting data while wearing this hat. Words like “because” and “so” belong to the yellow and black hats. ([View Highlight](https://www.shortform.com/app/highlights/21a17c4e-c05e-43ba-908c-8664e856ae58))
> fine to contribute facts that you aren’t completely sure of. But make sure that these are annotated with the contributor’s level of certainty, and confirm any wishy-washy facts before using them to make decisions. ([View Highlight](https://www.shortform.com/app/highlights/9b50e6e3-caa7-4ad8-9f02-e426ba5538b5))
> The red hat wants your emotions, intuitions, and gut feelings about the issue, with no need for supporting evidence or explanations. ([View Highlight](https://www.shortform.com/app/highlights/71ff1f17-4f75-4cf6-8268-98e387f64400))
> Examples of red hat contributions are:
> “This seems like a terrific investment to me. I’m feeling really keen.”
> “I don’t know what it is exactly, but something about this deal smells fishy.” ([View Highlight](https://www.shortform.com/app/highlights/627acb59-3a2a-4fc1-9c00-fa7bde4cc202))
> The black hat is the critiquing hat. Black hat thinking looks for problems and logical flaws. The black hat is focused on survival—it’s the hat that looks out for danger and keeps us alive. ([View Highlight](https://www.shortform.com/app/highlights/4b71c4f1-c3e7-421e-9a33-746b799e17e2))
> Specifically, the black hat asks: “Has this type of thing failed before? If so, why?” ([View Highlight](https://www.shortform.com/app/highlights/ebc7044c-128f-407f-b83d-3636b026cd84))
> Yellow hat thinking is positive and concrete. You can remember this easily: Builders often wear yellow hardhats when working on new buildings, and yellow is the color of sunny optimism. Under the yellow hat, you find ways to be optimistic. You search for value. You ask: “What’s the silver lining?” and “How can I make this work?” ([View Highlight](https://www.shortform.com/app/highlights/e8598f95-bc35-4212-8257-be21b370d1d6))
> The green hat is the creative hat. Green is the color of new growth, and green hat thinking looks for new and original ideas. ([View Highlight](https://www.shortform.com/app/highlights/02fdc3df-ff77-4f32-9629-da3836e48991))
> Green hat thinking is about jolting yourself out of your normal thinking patterns. ([View Highlight](https://www.shortform.com/app/highlights/674c244e-c9ec-42cf-9500-bda4cdcd545c))
---
Title: Six Thinking Hats by Edward De Bono
Author: Shortform
Tags: readwise, books
date: 2024-01-30
---
# Six Thinking Hats by Edward De Bono
Author:: Shortform
## AI-Generated Summary
None
## Highlights
> De Bono’s six hats represent the following types of thinking:
> The blue hat is for metacognition, or the overall organization of the thinking process.
> The white hat is for gathering neutral information.
> The red hat is for emotions.
> The black hat is for criticism.
> The yellow hat is for positive feedback and developing solutions.
> The green hat is for new, creative ideas. ([View Highlight](https://www.shortform.com/app/highlights/1ff43821-3f74-4c63-9a0a-176528d3b191))
> The Six Hats method asks you to see thinking as mental exploration in a particular direction. ([View Highlight](https://www.shortform.com/app/highlights/e53b983b-bacd-48b7-a8e2-aef193ab3b11))
> A hat is easy to put on and take off. This mirrors the six different thinking styles, which you can call upon in a flexible and relatively effortless manner. ([View Highlight](https://www.shortform.com/app/highlights/ec02eb86-6ec2-409b-97f4-14f40fd5137f))
> Hats are visually obvious. This signposting function is important in the Six Hats method because you want your current thinking direction to be clear to everyone, including to yourself. By putting on your metaphorical hat, you’re signposting the direction that your thoughts will take. ([View Highlight](https://www.shortform.com/app/highlights/f014b2e1-c5c5-41c0-9007-6b5b38afdf73))
> In the Six Hats system, there are no thinking specialists, no “yellow hat people” or “black hat people.” ([View Highlight](https://www.shortform.com/app/highlights/83767836-33ea-4981-9132-d99fecf00e82))
> Blue hat thinking is metacognition, or thinking about thinking. ([View Highlight](https://www.shortform.com/app/highlights/b1c0b49b-a6ba-4b18-9f6a-e25c8a4f95d2))
> Blue hat data includes planning documents such as agendas, checklists, calendars, and Gantt (project tracking) charts. It also includes final outputs such as reports and overviews. Blue hat contributions include procedural suggestions, comments on the progress of the discussion, and suggestions for next steps. ([View Highlight](https://www.shortform.com/app/highlights/e129aac1-61b6-41c5-9d38-9fd944247ace))
> The first blue hat period is concerned with framing the topic clearly, setting goals for the session, and planning the sequence of hats to be used. The final blue hat period is concerned with creating an overview of the discussion that just took place, finalizing any decisions that remain outstanding, and determining what further action needs to be taken and by whom. ([View Highlight](https://www.shortform.com/app/highlights/fa8000a2-59a3-4204-9061-ff2c090dc67c))
> White hat thinking is the gathering of relevant factual information. The white hat considers what you know about the situation, how reliable this information is, what you don’t yet know, and how you’ll find the missing information. Avoid interpreting data while wearing this hat. Words like “because” and “so” belong to the yellow and black hats. ([View Highlight](https://www.shortform.com/app/highlights/21a17c4e-c05e-43ba-908c-8664e856ae58))
> fine to contribute facts that you aren’t completely sure of. But make sure that these are annotated with the contributor’s level of certainty, and confirm any wishy-washy facts before using them to make decisions. ([View Highlight](https://www.shortform.com/app/highlights/9b50e6e3-caa7-4ad8-9f02-e426ba5538b5))
> The red hat wants your emotions, intuitions, and gut feelings about the issue, with no need for supporting evidence or explanations. ([View Highlight](https://www.shortform.com/app/highlights/71ff1f17-4f75-4cf6-8268-98e387f64400))
> Examples of red hat contributions are:
> “This seems like a terrific investment to me. I’m feeling really keen.”
> “I don’t know what it is exactly, but something about this deal smells fishy.” ([View Highlight](https://www.shortform.com/app/highlights/627acb59-3a2a-4fc1-9c00-fa7bde4cc202))
> The black hat is the critiquing hat. Black hat thinking looks for problems and logical flaws. The black hat is focused on survival—it’s the hat that looks out for danger and keeps us alive. ([View Highlight](https://www.shortform.com/app/highlights/4b71c4f1-c3e7-421e-9a33-746b799e17e2))
> Specifically, the black hat asks: “Has this type of thing failed before? If so, why?” ([View Highlight](https://www.shortform.com/app/highlights/ebc7044c-128f-407f-b83d-3636b026cd84))
> Yellow hat thinking is positive and concrete. You can remember this easily: Builders often wear yellow hardhats when working on new buildings, and yellow is the color of sunny optimism. Under the yellow hat, you find ways to be optimistic. You search for value. You ask: “What’s the silver lining?” and “How can I make this work?” ([View Highlight](https://www.shortform.com/app/highlights/e8598f95-bc35-4212-8257-be21b370d1d6))
> The green hat is the creative hat. Green is the color of new growth, and green hat thinking looks for new and original ideas. ([View Highlight](https://www.shortform.com/app/highlights/02fdc3df-ff77-4f32-9629-da3836e48991))
> Green hat thinking is about jolting yourself out of your normal thinking patterns. ([View Highlight](https://www.shortform.com/app/highlights/674c244e-c9ec-42cf-9500-bda4cdcd545c))