Six thinking hats

Purpose

The exercise aims to help in problem-solving and considering an important decision from all angles to make the best solution.

Preparations

The team in question can decide if each team member "wears" a different colour hat during the whole decision-making process. Another option would be that all team members "wear" the same hat at the same time and change between the hats in different stages of the decision-making. 

Steps

This is an example of steps where the tool is used:

1. At the beginning of the meeting start with the yellow hat, and discuss the opportunities and positive outcomes of a certain decision. After discussing several options, focus on one option and the impact of that decision. 
2. Switch to the black hat to look at the possible downsides of the needed decision.
3. One person can wear a white hat to point out what the data shows, to make sure that the decision is somehow based on the data.
4. Now, the team could wear the yellow hat again, to see the unmet needs and possible opportunities.
5. After this, the team could put on the green hat and generate ideas for how to prototype the new idea and test its value with people.
6. The facilitator of the meeting should wear a blue hat and can suggest postponing the decision until the new idea is validated by people.
7. The team can then wear the red hat to check how everyone feels about this plan. People might agree that it's a high-stakes decision and it feels right to lower the risk before making the decision, so they would be less anxious about the decision.
8. The team then arrives at a reasonable next step towards making this decision.

Using the Six Thinking Hats, every perspective was heard and the outcome was made possible by discussing the different perspectives.

Tip: You can also use this on your own to develop your problem-solving skills and make decision based on different perspectives.