“My head feels like spaghetti – everything’s a mess!”…

“I just can’t think straight”…

“It’s just the same thing going round and round again”…

“I just didn’t think of that”…

These are all common things that people say when it comes to making a decision, however small or large. But this “mess” can be easily unscrambled.

Here’s a fact: every person (you included) has 1 or 2 most natural ways that they make a decision, whether it’s being positive (“optimistic”), factual or really imaginative. But there are, according to Edward De Bono (not the bloke from the rock band U2 but the bloke who coined the phrase 'lateral thinking'!) – anyway, according to him there are 6 particular dimensions to every decision:

1. Facts
2. Feelings
3. Positives
4. Negatives
5. Possibilities
6. Deciding what next

Let’s give these 6 dimensions a colour each and pretend they are hats – they are easy to put on and take off, and they will fit you perfectly!

Each 'Thinking Hat' is a different style of thinking. These are explained below:

White Hat - With this thinking hat you focus on the data available. Look at the information you have, and consider what you can learn from it. Look for gaps in what you  know, and either try to fill them or take account of them. This 'hat' is all about FACTS FACTS FACTS (and stuff what you feel about it for a moment). "The facts of the situation are..."

Red Hat - 'Wearing' the red hat, you look at problems using gut reaction and emotion. Notice how other people will feel.Here there is no need to justify what you feel, 1 or 2 words might be enough: “I feel… excited…but a bit scared.” This 'hat' gives permission for emotions which are a valuable part of being human and DO affect decision making. Here's a way of making it explicit, without being just emotion-led.

Black Hat - ask yourself 'What are all the risks / negatives of this decision?" Become aware of why it might not work. This is important because it highlights the weak points in a plan and allows you to deal with them or change them. It can also help you to spot risks before you decide on a course of action. A good 'hat' to put on for naturally-optimistic people who too easily miss the risks and concerns! "The risks of this are..."

Yellow Hat - helps you to think positively and see all the benefits of the decision and the value in it. Yellow Hat thinking helps you to keep going when everything looks gloomy and difficult. "On the positive side..."

Green Hat - stands for creativity. This is where you can develop creative solutions to a problem. It is a freewheeling way of thinking, in which there is little criticism of ideas. Start with a blank sheet. Ask yourself, "what else could we do about this?" and just keep going. Don't stop to evaluate the emotions or concerns, just be crazily creative. "Another idea could be..."

Blue Hat - stands for the next step. If the green hat has raised lots of creative ideas, you might want to wear the black hat to check if they would work or not! The blue 'hat' gives the necessary space to manouevre between 'hats' and rise above the situation and get a 'bird's eye view' of the situation. "Ok, so where are we up to? What is the next step?"

• The hats can be worn in any order (although white & red are good at the start, and black near the end).
• Stick to one at a time. This is the value of this tool - unscarmbling the spaghetti.
• Give it enough time to push through a few 'blank spots' otherwise you'll just revert to your naturally strong ways of thinking.
• They can be used on your own or with a group, for ANY decision.
• Write down what happens as you go through this process. Now – you can make decisions having looked at it from EVERY angle!

Now, put your red hat on... How do you feel about using this tool?

Now, put your green hat on... Where could use this tool?

Now, put your yellow hat on... What positives could you get from using this straight away?

Now...

This article is inspired by Edward De Bono's 'Six Thinking Hats' published by Penguin Books (c) 2000