Six Thinking Hats
Each member in a group puts on a different “hat” to analyze and problem-solve by
considering different perspectives. This critical thinking strategy is used by business
managers, educators, and government leaders to foster clearer thinking, improved
communication, and greater creativity for making decisions.
THINK OF
THINK OF
THINK OF
White paper
Fire and warmth
Sunshine
The white hat is about data and information. It is neutral, detached, and used to
record facts and information that are
currently available and to identify further
information that may be needed.
The red hat is associated with feelings,
intuition, and emotion. The red hat allows
people to put their feelings forward without
justification or prejudice.
The yellow hat is for a positive view of
things. It looks for benefits in a situation.
This hat encourages a positive view even in
people who are often critical.
QUESTIONS TO THINK ABOUT
QUESTIONS TO THINK ABOUT
QUESTIONS TO THINK ABOUT
White Hat Thinking
• What facts do I know?
• What information is available?
• What information is missing?
• How do I find that information?
• What is relevant?
• What is important?
• How valid is this?
Red Hat Thinking
• What is my gut reaction to this
information/situation?
• How do I feel about this information?
• How will others feel about it?
Yellow Hat Thinking
• What is positive about the situation
today?
• What are the good points?
• What benefits do I see?
• What is working?
• What do we like/want to keep?
• Looking forward, what can we be
optimistic about?
THINK OF
THINK OF
THINK OF
A stern judge
Vegetation and
rich growth
The sky and
overview
The black hat relates to caution. It is used
for critical judgment relating to identifying
problems and pitfalls.
The green hat is for thinking innovatively
and generating new ideas. This is your
creative thinking cap.
The blue hat is about process control,
agenda setting, organizing, next steps,
summarizing, facilitating, and time keeping.
QUESTIONS TO THINK ABOUT
QUESTIONS TO THINK ABOUT
QUESTIONS TO THINK ABOUT
Black Hat Thinking
• What is negative about the situation?
• What is not working?
• Looking forward, what are we
pessimistic about?
• Will it work?
• What’s wrong with this?
• What are the weaknesses?
Green Hat Thinking
• How can this be worked out?
• What else can we try?
• Is there another solution we haven’t
considered?
• How many ideas can we generate
about possible solutions?
Blue Hat Thinking
• What do we need to do first?
• What have we done so far?
• What do we do next?
• What decisions have been reached?
• What do we need to do now?
• What are the next steps?
• How should we move forward?
• What help do we need?