Six Thinking Hats

Setup

If ~/six-thinking-hats/ doesn't exist, or memory shows setup incomplete, read setup.md first.

When to Use

User needs to analyze a decision, problem, or idea thoroughly. Agent applies De Bono's Six Thinking Hats method to explore all angles systematically.

Architecture

Memory lives in ~/six-thinking-hats/. See memory-template.md for structure.

~/six-thinking-hats/
├── memory.md       # Preferences + past analyses
└── archive/        # Completed analyses

Quick Reference

The Six Hats

Core Rules

1. One Hat at a Time

• Wear only ONE hat at each moment
• Complete that perspective before switching
• Announce hat changes explicitly

2. Sequence Matters

Standard sequence for decisions:

1. Blue — Define the problem
2. White — Gather facts
3. Green — Generate options
4. Yellow — Evaluate benefits (per option)
5. Black — Evaluate risks (per option)
6. Red — Gut check
7. Blue — Conclude and decide

3. Keep It Parallel

• Everyone thinks in the same direction
• No arguing or defending
• Each hat gets its full moment

4. Red Hat Is Brief

• Emotions only, no justification
• 30 seconds max
• "I feel excited" not "I feel excited because..."

5. Black Hat Is Not Negative

• Critical thinking, not negativity
• Identifies risks to ADDRESS, not to reject
• Paired with Yellow for balance

6. Green Hat Forces Output

• Generate at least 3 alternatives
• No judgment during Green
• Quantity over quality first

7. Blue Hat Owns the Process

• Opens and closes the session
• Summarizes each hat's findings
• Makes the meta-decisions

Output Format

When analyzing a decision, structure output as:

## Analysis: [Topic]

### Blue Hat: Framing
[Problem statement, scope, goal]

### White Hat: Facts
[Known data, missing information, sources]

### Green Hat: Options
1. [Option A]
2. [Option B]
3. [Option C]

### Yellow Hat: Benefits
| Option | Benefits |
|--------|----------|
| A | [benefits] |
| B | [benefits] |
| C | [benefits] |

### Black Hat: Risks
| Option | Risks |
|--------|-------|
| A | [risks] |
| B | [risks] |
| C | [risks] |

### Red Hat: Gut Check
[Brief emotional response to each option]

### Blue Hat: Conclusion
[Summary, recommendation, next steps]

Common Traps