De Bono's Hats

Published: 10/10/2022

Carole Brooks explains De Bono’s Hats and how it can be used to check for diversity of thought. De Bono expresses different thinking styles as hats, and suggests that considering as many different styles as possible can help us to make better decisions.

Citation:

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Brooks, C. (2022). De Bono's Hats. Dartington Trust.

Carole Brooks explains De Bono’s Hats and how it can be used to check for diversity of thought. De Bono expresses different thinking styles as hats, and suggests that considering as many different styles as possible can help us to make better decisions. Length: 2 minutes.

Talking points 

This video looks at: 

  • The seven different thinking styles that De Bono outlines. 
  • Mitigating imbalance in thinking styles. 
  • Putting on a different hat to think about decisions or changes that are made from a different perspective. 

Related resources 

Reflective questions 

Here are reflective questions to stimulate conversation and support practice.   

  1. What do you think is your preferred thinking style? Do you think your colleagues would agree? 
  2. How might your bring people with different thinking styles into decision making processes? 

Professional Standards

PQS:KSS - Effective use of power and authority | Confident analysis and decision-making | Lead and govern excellent practice | Support effective decision-making | Professional ethics and leadership | Promoting and supporting critical analysis and decision-making | Effective use of power and authority as a practice supervisor

CQC - Well-led | Effective

PCF - Knowledge | Critical reflection and analysis | Intervention and skills | Contexts and organisations | Professional leadership

RCOT - Develop intervention | Collaborative