Welcome to another creative tool, explained by CHIC Beijing Toastmasters.

For more detailed information on the Six Thinking Hats, you can google Edward De Bono, the originator of this tool, or just wiki it.

Here is the executive summary:

The assumption behind this brainstorming method, is that the human mind thinks in different ways.  And supposedly, we cannot think in multiple ways at the same time.  We also tend to be better thinkers in one way versus the other.  In a brainstorming session, a team facilitator assigns a team member to put on different hats, and force each other to approach a problem from different perspectives.   This also tend to prevent group-think.  And as with rules of team brainstorming, there should be no prejudices from one hat to the other.  There are 6 perspectives, which is symbolized by six different hats:

• Questions (White) - considering purely what information is available, what are the facts?
• Emotions (Red) - instinctive gut reaction or statements of emotional feeling (but not any justification)
• Bad points judgement (Black) - logic applied to identifying flaws or barriers, seeking mismatch
• Good points (Yellow) - logic applied to identifying benefits, seeking harmony
• Creativity (Green) - statements of provocation and investigation, seeing where a thought goes
• Thinking (Blue) - thinking about thinking

Each different hat, should think about what additional questions you would ask, what additional facts you can gather, what statements you can make from that perspective.  Once all the hats have had their say, then the group look at all the evidence to reach a more balanced decision.

As individuals, we can also force ourselves to put on a different hat as when we approach complex and ambiguous problems.  For toastmasters, and specifically for speech writing, I believe this method is excellent to cover all your basis when developing a comprehensive persuasive speech.  If you are working on Speech by Management, this is also a good method to strategize the talking points and prepare for Q&A.

Use this as a simple checklist:  First, make sure you have all the key facts on your topic.  If you're talking about traffic safety in Beijing, China, get all the key figures (White) you can (Specific to the statistics in Beijing). This is the basis of your 'research' .  Next, put on the human hat, and think about how to get the audience emotionally (Red) connected with the topic.  This is the time to touch their heart. A personally story, asking a personal question may help.  Third, if your position has pros and cons, then put yourself in the shoes of the 'cons', and think of the 'Bad points' (Black).  You'll figure out how to address them, or incorporate it into your point of view.  Very useful to prepare your Q&A.  On the other hand, you should already know the benefits of your own position (Yellow).  Finally, do some mind-mapping (Green) about the topic, and see what other ideas pop out.  Don't be afraid to be illogical.  Because during your creative mapping, you may come across 3-step-removed idea that can interestingly tie into your main point, and use that as your introduction or conclusion.

Note, for individual brainstorming, Blue hat is not needed.  That is a hat worn by the facilitator in a team-brainstorming to keep the thinking process going.

Good luck!