Because the Six Hats system quickly becomes a neutral game, the method provides a very convenient way to switch thinking or to ask for a certain type of thinking. If you ask someone not to be so negative, that person may be offended. But if you ask the person to do yellow hat thinking, there is no reason to be offended. This is not easy to do in any other way without offending the people involved. Increased Awareness Because there is now a simple and practical way of referring to different modes of thinking, people become aware that they are stuck in one mode or another.
People can now comment on their own thinking and can also comment on the thinking of others.
The Six Hats method allows an increased awareness of what thinking is actually being used on any occasion. Siemens has over 35 certified Six Hats instructors working with employees throughout its European offices. Boeing is just now taking up the hats in the United States. The hats are also in use at Honeywell, Motorola, Eli Lilly, Cargill, Fidelity Investments, National Semiconductor, and in many other companies. Healthcare groups, financial institutions, chemical and pharmaceutical companies, manufacturers, and utilities are just a few of the industries using Six Hats.