2. Hat Experiences
The concept of approaching life and
tasks with different hats is refreshing
and stimulating
My experiences with different hats is
reported from my mining industry
background
Using this concept in business is
powerful, however the entire team
needs to understand the concept
Setting up rules that everyone abides
by is critical to the success of this Hatitude above Aptitude!
concept
3. Objective Hat
The white helmet signifies seniority
(management)on a mine and
concurs with the data rational view
Managers analyze past trends and
use this to try predict outcomes White = Data = Right
Managers that use creativity feel
very constrained by this view
The hat removes emotions and
makes the wearer comfortable and
secure when confronted
4. Negative Hat
The black helmet depicts the
unhappy worker and their point of
view
Workers represent resistance to Black = Resistance = Bad
change and management often start
planning from this perspective of
their employees
The weakness of a plan becomes clear
when you see it from the workers
point of view
A plan that withstands this view is
normally a strong, successful plan
5. Intuitive Hat
The red helmet is associated with
FIRE on a mine and is clearly
emotional and wild
A miner with a red helmet represents
PASSION and action, which is what Red = Fire = Action!
management require for high
productivity
The leadership represented here is
necessary when facing hazardous
challenges
The intuitive view will generate
creativity and unique results
6. Process Hat
The blue hat is worn by the
engineering staff that perform a
“service” function on the mine
The cool blue helmet on service
personnel makes them neutral to the Blue = Peace = Cool
production process
The rational approach to
maintenance signifies calm
dispassionate reliability
Structure is required for optimum
results and calling on the views of
others
7. Positive Hat
The yellow helmets are normally
construction workers and on a mine
are the technical services people
The eternal optimism of professionals
Yellow = Bright = Solutions!
point out “where the gold” is and
expect the miners to extract this with
ease
The bright, sunny disposition can be
infectious but can also leave realist
people perplexed at first
The optimistic view save the day!
8. Creative Hat
The green helmets are rarely used on
a mine (militaristic), where creativity
is frowned upon
A miner is uncomfortable outside the
rules however once he is allowed to Green = Growth = Wild
be creative, he is liberated and highly
innovative
The green movement has created
many innovative approaches to
environmentally friendly mining
Thinking green is mining reframed
which has re-engineered the mines
9. Conclusion
Mining Engineering requires you to wear many hats to
consider the conflicting requirements of men,
machinery, rock, ventilation, water, electricity,
communications, costs, markets, labor, housing, climate
etc… this is a necessary skill for success
The colored helmets on a mine define which level or shift
you work on – much like the different view signified by
the thinking hats
I am most comfortable in a Yellow Hat as miners are
eternal optimists
I am least comfortable in a Black Hat as that negatively
impacts the team and production
