6 thinking hats (by Edward de Bono)
It is a role-playing model for effective decision making and problem solving. This methodology is based on the premise that different personality types (optimist/pessimist/analytical etc.) think differently and therefore provide different perspective to the same problem/challenge.
Process:
- Assign a specific hat (colour) to each member
- Each member looks at the problem as per their assigned personality traits and provide ideas/suggestions or ask questions
- One member will note/record all the inputs to capture all perspectives
As an alternative approach to this method, same colour hats could be assigned to all the members at a time and then rotate with different hats subsequently. Everyone wearing a same color hat could encourage all members thinking together in the same direction the same time.
Use: The method is effective in bringing out divergent thinking and varied options for an otherwise homogeneously thinking group
Pro-tips:
- You can choose to use all or few of the colours (hats).
- Don’t ask who needs which colour hat, just assign.
- Also, you don’t need an actual hat to perform this exercise, just write on a paper or use coloured post-its to provide a visual reminder of the personality.
Have you tried ‘6 thinking hats’ with your team? I will be happy to hear about it.
Cheers,
Piyush Singh
#innovation, #problemsolving, #ideation, #brainstorming,