Six Thinking Hats - Problem Solving & Brainstorming Techniques

Feelings

"What are your gut reactions?"

• The green color inspires a sustainable look and is very appealing. This is even a great shade.
• The impact on the reduced return rates could mean additional resources.
• How do the new delivery routes impact our delivery times? I would certainly be interested in learning more about it.

These are examples⬆️

Cautions

"What risks should I keep in mind?"

• Is a 5% preference sufficient for us to make a single color product? What happens if preferences change.
• What is the cost of maintaining the packaging quality and sustainability?
• The new delivery routes may not have been proven as reliable yet or may increase our costs.

These are examples⬆️

Benefits

"Why should I be optimistic?"

• The new product could increase our revenue diversification stream and increase our family of products.
• We can start receiving better feedback and testimonials from our customers.
• The impact from damage from delivery will meet our service standards.

These are examples⬆️

Creativity

"How can we create opportunities?"

• A green range could be expanded to a different color range set or be symbolic.
• Creating multiple channels will allow us to establish new partnerships and partners.
• Speeding up the quality and reliability of delivery could allow us to bundle existing products.

These are examples⬆️

Process

"What systems or processes will be needed?"

• Let’s go around the room and discuss the color options based.
• How have the reduced return rates impacted our warehousing department?
• Would there be any other changes to our workflow with a new delivery partner and will it change our logistics technology?

These are examples⬆️

Use the Six Thinking Hats model to help with:

• Running better and more structured meetings especially if there tends to only be a single view at every meeting.
• Making better decisions by having a more holistic and wide-ranging view of the problem.
• Approaching problems from various angles of facts, emotions, and creativity.
• Inspiring idea generation as an ice-breaker activity by having different people play different roles.
• More collaboration during brainstorming and decision making with assigned roles including facilitator responsibilities.

Six Thinking Hats is a powerful technique for decision-making that includes different points of view.

The process and methodology allow emotion and skepticism to be brought into what might normally be a purely rational process, and it opens up the opportunity for creativity within decision-making.

Decisions made using the Six Thinking Hats technique can be more resilient and based on a holistic perspective, allowing you to avoid pitfalls and gaps before you have committed to a decision.