This is an excerpt from Six Thinking Hats by Edward de Bono
Introduction
An antelope grazing in Africa hears a sound in the grass. Immediately all the
neuronal clusters concerned with danger are preactivated so the lion is recognized
as soon as it emerges from the grass, and the antelope is able to escape. Such
presensitization is a key part of how the brain works and why it is so efficient.
It is not possible to be presensitized in different directions at the same
time just as it would not be possible to design a golf club that was the best
club for driving and at the same time the best club for putting. That is why
the Six Hats method is essential. It allows the brain to maximize its sensitivity
in different directions at different times. It is simply not possible to have
that maximum sensitization in different directions all at the same time.
Argument versus Parallel Thinking
The basic idea behind Western thinking was designed about twenty-three hundred
years ago by the Greek "Gang of Three" and is based on argument.
Socrates put a high emphasis on dialectic and argument. In 80 percent of the
dialogues in which he was involved (as written up by Plato) there is no constructive
outcome at all. Socrates saw his role as simply pointing out what was "wrong."
He wanted to clarify the correct use of concepts like justice and love by pointing
out incorrect usage. Plato believed that the "ultimate" truth was
hidden below appearances. His famous analogy is of a person chained up in a
cave so that he can see only the back wall of the cave. There is a fire at the
entrance to the cave. After a person enters the cave, his shadow is projected
onto the back wall of the cave and that is all the chained-up person can see.
Plato used this analogy to point out that as we go through life we can see only
the "shadows" of the truth.
Aristotle systematized inclusion/exclusion logic. From past experience we would
put together "boxes," definitions, categories or principles. When
we came across something, we judged into which box it fell. Something could
be in the box or not in the box. It could not be half in and half out —
nor could it be anywhere else.
As a result, Western thinking is concerned with "what is," which
is determined by analysis, judgement and argument.
That is a fine and useful system. But there is another whole aspect of thinking
that is concerned with "what can be," which involves constructive
thinking, creative thinking, and "designing a way forward."
In 1998, I was asked to give an opening talk at the Australian Constitutional
Convention that was looking at the future of federation. I told the following
story.
Once upon a time a man painted half his car white and the other half black.
His friends asked him why he did such a strange thing. He replied: "Because
it is such fun, whenever I have an accident, to hear the witnesses in court
contradict each other."
At the end of the convention the chairperson, Sir Anthony Mason, told me that
he was going to use that story because it is so often the case in an argument
that both sides are right but are looking at different aspects of the situation.
Many cultures in the world, perhaps even the majority of cultures, regard argument
as aggressive, personal and nonconstructive. That is why so many cultures readily
take up the parallel thinking of the Six Hats method.
A Changing World
A thinking system based on argument is excellent just as the front left wheel
of a car is excellent. There is nothing wrong with it at all. But it is not
sufficient.
A doctor is treating a child with a rash. The doctor immediately thinks of
some possible "boxes." Is it sunburn? Is it food allergy? Is it measles?
The doctor then examines the signs and symptoms and makes a judgement. If the
doctor judges that the condition fits into the "measles" box, then
the treatment of measles is written on the side of that "box" and
the doctor knows exactly what to do. That is traditional thinking at its best.
From the past we create standard situations. We judge into which "standard
situation box" a new situation falls. Once we have made this judgement,
our course of action is clear.
Such a system works very well in a stable world. In a stable world the standard
situations of the past still apply. But in a changing world the standard situations
may no longer apply.
Instead of judging our way forward, we need to design our way forward. We need
to be thinking about "what can be," not just about "what is."
Yet the basic tradition of Western thinking (or any other thinking) has not
provided a simple model of constructive thinking. That is precisely what the
Six Hats method (parallel thinking) is all about.
What Is Parallel Thinking?
There is a large and beautiful country house. One person is standing in front
of the house. One person is standing behind the house. Two other people are
standing on each side of the house. All four have a different view of the house.
All four are arguing (by intercom) that the view each is seeing is the correct
view of the house.
Using parallel thinking they all walk around and look at the front. Then they
all walk around to the side, then the back, and finally the remaining side.
So at each moment each person is looking in parallel from the same point of
view.
This is almost the exact opposite of argument, adversarial, confrontational
thinking where each party deliberately takes an opposite view. Because each
person eventually looks at all sides of the building, the subject is explored
fully. Parallel thinking means that at any moment everyone is looking in the
same direction.
But parallel thinking goes even further. In traditional thinking, if two people
disagree, there is an argument in which each tries to prove the other party
wrong. In parallel thinking, both views, no matter how contradictory, are put
down in parallel. If, later on, it is essential to choose between the differing
positions, then an attempt to choose is made at that point. If a choice cannot
be made, then the design has to cover both possibilities.
At all times the emphasis is on designing a way forward.
Directions and Hats
The essence of parallel thinking is that at any moment everyone is looking
in the same direction — but the direction can be changed. An explorer
might be asked to look north or to look east. Those are standard direction labels.
So we need some direction labels for thinking. What are the different directions
in which thinkers can be invited to look?
This is where the hats come in.
In many cultures there is already a strong association between thinking and
"thinking hats" or "thinking caps." The value of a hat as
a symbol is that it indicates a role. People are said to be wearing a certain
hat. Another advantage is that a hat can be put on or taken off with ease. A
hat is also visible to everyone around. For those reasons I chose hats as the
symbols for the directions of thinking.
Although physical hats are sometimes used, the hats are usually imaginary.
Posters of the hats on the walls of meeting rooms often are used, however, as
a reminder of the directions. There are six colored hats corresponding to the
six directions of thinking: white, red, black, yellow, green, blue.
Directions Not Descriptions
It is very important to note that the hats are directions and not descriptions
of what has happened. It is not a matter of everyone saying what they like and
then the hats being used to describe what has been said. It is a matter of setting
out to think in that direction.
"Let's have some white hat thinking here" means a deliberate focus
on information. Everyone now tries to think of information that is available,
information that is needed, questions to be asked, other ways of getting information,
and so on.
"I want your red hat on this" is a specific request for feelings,
intuition and emotions on a particular issue.
"That is good black hat thinking; now let us switch to some yellow hat
thinking. . . ." In this case the term black hat describes thinking that
seems to be cautious and seems to point out possible difficulties, but the main
intention is to ask for a switch to the yellow hat direction (benefits, values,
and so forth).
It is extremely important to appreciate the difference between description
and direction. A description is concerned with what has happened. A direction
is concerned with what is about to happen.
"I want you to look to the east" is very different from "You
have been looking to the east."
"I want you to cook some scrambled eggs" is very different from "I
see that you have cooked some scrambled eggs."
Not Categories of People
It is possible to create tests to determine whether a person is type A or type
B, or any similar descriptive discriminations. Psychologists do that all the
time. The difficulty is that once people have been put into "boxes"
they tend to stay there. Again, that is an example of "what is" instead
of "what can be."
In a race a thin man would usually beat a fat man ("what is"). But
if the fat man learns to ride a bicycle, then the fat man will beat the thin
man ("what can be").
There is a huge temptation to use the hats to describe and categorize people,
such as "she is black hat" or "he is a green hat person."
That temptation must be resisted. The hats are not descriptions of people but
modes of behavior.
It is true that some people may be permanently cautious and inclined to look
for dangers. It is true that some people might always be bubbling with ideas
and others might be better at focusing on facts. People may prefer one mode
to another. People might be better at one mode than another. Nevertheless, the
hats are not categories of people.
If you drive a car with a manual gearshift, you use all the gears. In the engine
of your car all cylinders are firing. The hats are directions of thinking. Every
person must be able, and skilled, to look in all the directions.
For those reasons the use of the hats as labels is dangerous because it destroys
the whole point of the system, which is that everyone can look in every direction.
Note on Using the Thinking Hats
When people tell me that they have been using the Six Hats method, I often
ask how they have been using it, and discover that sometimes they have been
using it incorrectly. In a meeting, someone has been chosen as the black hat
thinker, someone else as the white hat thinker, and so on. The people then keep
those roles for the whole meeting. That is almost exactly the opposite of how
the system should be used. The whole point of parallel thinking is that the
experience and intelligence of everyone should be used in each direction. So
everyone present wears the black hat at the appointed time. Everyone present
wears the white hat at another time. That is parallel thinking and makes fullest
use of everyone's intelligence and experience.
Showing Off
Many people tell me that they enjoy argument because they can show off how
clever they are. They can win arguments and demolish opponents. None of that
is very constructive but there may be a human need to show off.
Thus showing off is not excluded from parallel thinking and the Six Hats method.
A thinker now shows off by showing how many considerations he or she can put
forward under the yellow hat, how many under the black hat, and so forth. You
show off by performing well as a thinker. You show off by performing better
as a thinker than others in the meeting. The difference is that this type of
showing off is constructive. The ego is no longer tied to being right.
Playing the Game
There are all sorts of attempts to change the personalities of people. It is
believed that if you point out a personality type or a weakness, the person
will seek to compensate for that weakness. Such methods are generally slow,
ineffective and do not work.
Once people are put into a certain "box" or category they may try
to compensate. But the effort of compensation reminds them of "what they
are," so they sink even deeper into that category.
Ever since Freud, the emphasis has been on analysis: find out the deep truths
and motivations for action. Confucius's approach was almost the exact opposite.
Instead of focusing on personality he chose to focus directly on behavior. He
urged you to use the right behavior with your colleagues, your subordinates,
your superiors and your family. Confucius was not the least bit interested in
your personality or psychological makeup.
The Six Hats method follows the Confucian approach rather than the analytical
one. The rules of behavior are laid out. You follow those rules. If you are
aggressive, no one is going to try to make you less aggressive. But if the yellow
hat is in use, then you are to use your aggression in that direction.
By going straight to behavior, the Six Hats method is much more acceptable
and effective and quick than methods that set out to change personalities.
The "game" aspect of the Six Hats is very important. If a game is
being played, then anyone who does not obey the rules of the game is considered
uncooperative. If there is a switch from the black hat (caution) to the yellow
hat (possible benefits) and a person continues to lay out the potential dangers,
then that person is seen to be refusing to play the game. Getting people to
"play the game" is a very powerful form of changing behavior.
Results
Over the years the results of using the Six Hats method have become increasingly
clear. The results are based on feedback from many sources and fall into four
broad categories that are summarized here.
Power
With the Six Hats method, the intelligence, experience and knowledge of all
the members of the group are fully used. Everyone is looking and working in
the same direction.
A magnet is powerful because all the particles are aligned in the same direction.
That is not the case with argument or free discussion. With the argument mode
(as in a court of law), each party seeks to win the case. If one party thinks
of a point that might benefit the other party, then that point is never raised.
The purpose is to win, not to explore the subject honestly.
It is totally absurd that a person should hold back information or a point
of view because revealing it would weaken his or her argument. The focusing
of the sun's rays can melt the toughest of metals. In the same way, the focusing
of the mental ability of many people on a problem can more easily solve that
problem.
Time Saving
Optus (in Australia) had set aside four hours for an important discussion.
Using the Six Hats method the discussion was concluded in forty-five minutes.
From every side there are reports of how much quicker meetings become when
the six hats are used. Meetings take half the time. Meetings take a third or
a quarter of the time. Sometimes, as in the case of ABB, meetings take one-tenth
of the time.
In the United States, managers spend nearly 40 percent of their time in meetings.
If the Six Hats method reduced all meeting times by 75 percent, you would have
created 30 percent more manager time — at no extra cost whatsoever.
In normal thinking or argument, if someone says something, then others have
to respond — even if only out of politeness. But that is not the case
with parallel thinking.
With parallel thinking, every thinker at every moment is looking in the same
direction. The thoughts are laid out in parallel. You do not respond to what
the last person has said. You simply add another idea in parallel. In the end,
the subject is fully explored quickly.
Normally, if two points of view are at odds, then they are argued out. With
parallel thinking, both points of view are laid out alongside each other. Later
on, if it is essential to decide between the two, a decision is made. So there
is not argument at every step.
Removal of Ego
Perhaps the biggest obstacle to quick and effective thinking is the ego. People
tend to use thinking to parade their egos. Thinking is used to attack and put
down other people. Thinking is used to get your own way. Thinking is used to
show others how clever you are. Thinking is used to express personal antagonisms.
Someone will choose to disagree on a point simply to show up the person who
has made that point. If another person had made the point, there would have
been full agreement. In general, we do not fully realize just how obstructive
the ego is in preventing effective thinking.
During jury deliberations, there are often two personalities who refuse to
agree whatever the evidence might be. Judges have told me that that is a much
more serious problem than most people realize. Clearly, the problem destroys
the basic value of the jury system. That is why there is now interest in several
countries in training all juries in the Six Hats method. This would speed up
deliberations by removing the ego problem.
Confrontational and adversarial thinking exacerbate the ego problem. Six Hats
thinking removes it. With the Six Hats method you exert your ego by performing
well as a thinker under each of the hats.
The Six Hats method provides neutral and objective exploration of a subject
— argument does not.
One Thing at a Time
Confusion is the biggest enemy of good thinking. We try to do too many things
at the same time. We look for information. We are affected by feelings. We seek
new ideas and options. We have to be cautious. We want to find benefits. Those
are a lot of things that need doing.
Juggling with six balls at the same time is rather difficult. Tossing up one
ball at a time is much easier.
With the Six Hats method, we try to do only one thing at a time. There is a
time when we look for danger (black hat). There is a time when we seek new ideas
(green hat). There is a time when we focus on information (white hat). We do
not try to do everything at the same time.
With color printing, each color is printed separately, one at a time, and in
the end the full color effect is obtained. It is the same with Six Hat thinking
— we do one thing at a time and in the end the full picture emerges.
Underneath all this is the absolute physiological need to separate out the
types of thinking. As I mentioned in the introduction, the brain is sensitized
to look for danger and sensitized to seek benefits through a different chemical
setting.
Airplanes coming in to land often fly over car parks. If you tell yourself
to notice the yellow cars, then suddenly the yellow cars pop up and make themselves
visible. That is an example of sensitization.
You cannot be sensitized in different directions at the same time, so when
we set out to do all aspects of thinking at the same moment, we are going to
be suboptimal on all of them.
All the points mentioned in this section may seem obvious and logical. In fact,
there is no mystery about them. When the Six Hats method is used, the advantages
soon become clear. Instead of rambling, ego-driven meetings, meetings are now
constructive, productive and much faster.
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