Shekhar Verma

6 Thinking Hats!

Shekhar Verma -

Introduction

Hello there, The "6 Thinking Hats" technique is a powerful tool/technique for improving decision-making and problem-solving in group settings. Developed by Dr. Edward de Bono, the technique encourages individuals to approach a problem or decision from multiple perspectives, rather than getting stuck in one way of thinking. I came across this technique in a podcast where the speaker was telling how they use this technique at their company. I read more about it and thought of sharing this with you all.

The six hats represent the 6 thinking patterns each aiming at looking at the problem with a different pair of glasses. Here I will share the technique along with an example to help you understand this concept better. It's mostly used in a group setting but you can apply this technique to almost anything. If it’s done as a team activity, each person (or a sub group of people if the team is big) is given a hat and they are asked to think as per the HAT.
Let’s take an example and understand how to use it.
Suppose you want to open a fast-food store and let’s see the how this approach goes.
The six hats are:

  1. Blue Hat "the Conductor's Hat": The Blue Hat represents strategic and big-picture thinking. It is used to evaluate the overall goals and objectives, and to determine the best course of action. Do you want to open a single store or you want to build the next fast-food giant? Having a clear big picture in mind helps to make the baby steps needed to achieve your big goals.

  2. White Hat “The Factual Hat”: The White Hat represents objective, neutral thinking. It is used to gather information, identify facts and data, and analyze the problem. What will be your specialty? What will be your menu? What should be your pricing?

  3. Red Hat “"the Hat for the Heart"”: The Red Hat represents emotions and intuition. It allows individuals to express their feelings and gut instincts about a problem or decision. What if people don’t like the taste of your food? What will your family and friends think if you fail?

  4. Black Hat “The Judge's Hat”: The Black Hat represents critical and negative thinking. It is used to identify potential problems and risks, and to evaluate the feasibility of different options. Do you have existing competition nearby your premise? What if your plan fails, do you have an emergency fund?

  5. Yellow Hat “the Optimist's Hat”: The Yellow Hat represents positive and constructive thinking. It is used to generate ideas, identify opportunities, and evaluate the benefits of different options. How can your outlet standout from others? Why people will choose your brand over other restaurants?

  6. Green Hat “the Creative Hat”: The Green Hat represents creative and innovative thinking. It is used to generate new ideas and explore different possibilities. What interesting offers you can give to attract more sales? Can you start any food challenges ?

By using the 6 Thinking Hats technique, individuals and groups are able to approach a problem or decision from multiple perspectives, rather than getting stuck in one way of thinking. It allows for more comprehensive problem solving and decision making, and can increase the chances of a successful outcome.
Thankyou For Reading :smile: