Coming up with innovative ideas and solutions requires looking at problems from different perspectives. However, during brainstorming sessions, teams often get stuck in one mode of thinking. To get unstuck and open up new possibilities, Edward de Bono developed the Six Thinking Hats technique in 1985.
This powerful framework assigns each participant a colored “thinking hat” that represents a different style of thinking. By switching between these metaphorical hats, team members can shift their mindset and approach problems in a more dynamic, multidimensional way.
The Six Thinking Hats bring structure to brainstorming discussions and ensure all angles are considered. The white hat focuses on objective facts and data. The red hat covers emotions and intuition. The black hat looks at potential risks and challenges. The yellow hat brings optimism and positive thinking. The green hat encourages wild creativity. And the blue hat belongs to the facilitator, who oversees and summarizes the thinking process.
Studies show groups using the Six Thinking Hats generate more ideas compared to normal brainstorming. By separating modes of thinking, participants can avoid conflict and negative critiques during idea generation. The technique also reduces confirmation bias by forcing people to look beyond their usual perspective.
In a previous article, we looked at how to use the SCAMPER technique to generate new ideas for a fitness-tracking app. In this post, we’ll explore how to apply the Six Thinking Hats to another practical scenario: designing a new e-commerce website. You’ll see how this framework unlocks innovation by producing a balanced, comprehensive perspective.
Scenario: Designing a New E-Commerce Website
Imagine you’re a Product Manager leading a team to design a new e-commerce website. You decide to use the Six Thinking Hats technique to facilitate a productive brainstorming session.
1. White Hat – Facts and Data.
Encourage participants to think objectively and provide data-driven insights:
- Discuss e-commerce trends and statistics to gather a clear understanding of the current market landscape.
- Analyze user behavior data from previous websites to identify pain points and opportunities for improvement.
2. Red Hat – Emotions.
Have participants consider the emotional aspects of the website design:
- How might users feel when browsing the website?
- What emotions should the design evoke to create a positive user experience?
3. Black Hat – Critical Judgment.
Encourage participants to identify potential challenges, risks, and downsides:
- Critically evaluate potential design elements that could confuse or frustrate users.
- Discuss potential technical challenges and limitations that might arise during development.
4. Yellow Hat – Positive Outlook.
Have participants focus on the benefits and positive outcomes of different design choices:
- Highlight how a user-friendly interface can lead to increased customer satisfaction and repeat business.
- Discuss how certain design features could differentiate the website from competitors and attract more users.
5. Green Hat – Creative Thinking.
Encourage participants to think outside the box and generate innovative ideas:
- Brainstorm creative ways to enhance the user shopping experience, such as integrating augmented reality for trying products virtually.
- Explore unconventional design elements that could surprise and delight users.
6. Blue Hat – Process Control.
As the facilitator or product manager, you take on the role of the Blue Hat to guide the session:
- Summarize key insights and decisions made during each thinking hat phase.
- Determine which ideas are most promising and align with the overall project goals.
Conclusion
The Six Thinking Hats technique provides a structured approach to brainstorming that drives innovation by getting participants to think outside their usual boxes. While Edward de Bono created this method in 1985, it remains highly relevant for teams today.
By assigning metaphorical thinking hats, groups can break free of confirmation bias and consider problems from multiple angles. This leads to more diverse, well-rounded ideas that draw on objective data, intuition, optimism, critical evaluation, and creativity.
While we explored the Six Thinking Hats in the context of designing an e-commerce website, this framework can be applied to any brainstorming scenario from problem-solving to new product development. The flexibility of switching between different mindsets generates fresh perspectives and unlocks innovation.
Next time your team seems stuck on an idea or unable to see the full picture, introduce the Six Thinking Hats. Keeping everyone on the same metaphorical wavelength will produce synergistic thinking. Instead of getting bogged down in analysis paralysis, your team will be nimble and productive in generating game-changing insights.
