Templates · Themed & fun
Six Thinking Hats
Six columns, one way of thinking each, to look at a decision through ideas, facts, feelings, risks and benefits in turn.
- Green hat Creativity: alternatives and ideas, no judgement yet
- Blue hat Process: what this discussion is for and what stays out of it
- White hat Facts: numbers and observations, no interpretation
- Red hat Feelings: gut reactions, no justification required
- Black hat Caution: risks and what could go wrong
- Yellow hat Benefits: value and what already works
What it is
Each hat is a way of thinking, and each column is a hat. The whole group wears the same hat at the same moment, then changes it. Nobody defends a position: everyone looks for ideas, then for facts, then for risks. The six columns are creativity, process, facts, feelings, caution and benefits.
Goal
One subject examined from every side, with the enthusiasm and the objections both on the board, and a conclusion the group reached together instead of a duel between its optimist and its sceptic.
When to use it
Take it for a single question: a proposal to accept or refuse, a tool to adopt, a way of working to change, a problem that keeps coming back. It helps a group whose discussions always run in the same mode, all criticism or all enthusiasm. It needs time, and a facilitator who holds the rule of one hat at a time.
When to pick another format
It is heavy for looking back at an ordinary sprint: take Went well, To improve, Action ideas. For a quick choice, Pros and Cons keeps only the arguments for and against.
How to run it
State the subject in one sentence first. Then work one column at a time, everyone in the same one.
- Green hat: ask for alternatives and ideas, with no judgement yet.
- Blue hat: ask what this discussion is for and what stays out of it. If the subject is still vague, fill this column first.
- White hat: ask for facts, numbers and observations, with no interpretation.
- Red hat: ask for gut reactions. Nobody has to justify one, so keep this round short.
- Black hat: ask for the risks and what could go wrong.
- Yellow hat: ask for the value and for what already works.
Then return to the green column: which idea stands up to the black hat and is carried by the yellow one? Vote if the group is split, and write the decision and its first steps as actions.
Columns
| Column | Description |
|---|---|
| Green hat | Creativity: alternatives and ideas, no judgement yet |
| Blue hat | Process: what this discussion is for and what stays out of it |
| White hat | Facts: numbers and observations, no interpretation |
| Red hat | Feelings: gut reactions, no justification required |
| Black hat | Caution: risks and what could go wrong |
| Yellow hat | Benefits: value and what already works |
To start a retrospective from this template, see Create a retro.