Thinking hats templates

The White Hat. Here, you should note down what you already know, and what you need to find out. Add these to the relevant section using sticky notes available from the side panel in the template.

The Yellow Hat. Consider the positives, values and benefits of your ideas and add these to your whiteboard. The Black Hat. Think about what might go wrong. What are the risks, difficulties and problems? You may also want to consider how you will overcome or avoid these.

The Red Hat. Express your emotions and feelings, as well as any hunches you have. Follow the sequence of the hats by filling in the different sections as each hat is dealt with. Ideas are added to the template as they are made. The leader can sum up at the end and allow for time for further discussion.

Record or save your outcomes for future reference. This technique of lateral thinking can be used for many different scenarios:. Problem Solving — Customers at a pizzeria are complaining as the waiting time to get their pizzas has become longer. What can they do?

Opportunities — For an accounting company, there is a new expensive software program on the market that is quicker and better than their current one. Should they buy it? Collaboration is a key aspect of positive meetings. Anything to minimize conflict between participants. One of the ways to achieve this without losing track is to adopt a method that involves parallel thinking — where the whole team is focused.

Six thinking hats employ the different phases of thought and do away with frivolous arguments and emotions that can often derail meetings. Solving problems or discussing opportunities can become an incredibly effective activity when adopting this constructive tactic. By using the 6 thinking hats template as a guideline, it makes this practice of thought processing so much simpler and easy to use for all those involved. Meetings can flow while everything is visually displayed, allowing everyone to follow the development.

Data Widgets. Photos Effects. Visual Paradigm Desktop. Photo Books. Online Six Thinking Hats Templates. Make a Six Thinking Hats. Try Six Thinking Hats online. Six Thinking Hats Technique. Six Thinking Hats Model. Six Thinking Hats Template. Feature Highlights. Easiet Diagram Maker Wide range of smart drawing and precision control tools that helps you create great diagrams in minutes. Yellow hat positive thinking : You focus on benefits and opportunities. You look at best-case scenarios. A overall positive and optimistic attitude is key for wearing the yellow hat.

Green hat creativity : Use your creativity and imagination to solve problems. Brainstorm, dream and generate new ideas. You think critically and take a pessimistic view.

You ask for worst case scenarios and the worst possible outcome. The sequence of hats can be determined and fixed before the sessions starts or with a more flexible approach adjusted throughout the session:. Depending on the goal and issue you can mix and match different hats. Some examples:. The method enables participants to think deeply and without threatening the ego.

It is not about opinions, but about exploration and innovation. The technique also supports collaboration and togetherness. It saves time and enables better decision making. If you are interested other ideation methodologies that spark innovation and creativity, have a look at our articles on Brainwriting , Brainstorming and visual thinking.