1. By Norman M. Schwab
November 2012

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