How To Use the Six Hats Thinking Tool in the Workplace

The six hats thinking tool is a decision-making strategy that can help individuals or teams to process their thoughts and fully consider all potential solutions. In this process, team members can “wear” different colored “hats” that each represent different modes of thought. This can be a useful tool for team managers, company executives or other individuals who regularly lead meetings. In this article, we explain the benefits of the six hats thinking tool and explain how to use this strategy in the workplace in seven steps.

The six hats thinking tool can be a useful way for teams to make important workplace decisions by ensuring the team members involved use a variety of perspectives. This may help them come to the most informed and effective solution possible. The six hats each represent one of these perspectives and may encourage individuals to think in a certain way:

Red (emotion): This hat encourages individuals to consider their instincts and emotions and use them in the decision-making process. This includes the consideration of hunches and gut feelings.

Yellow (benefit**):** The yellow hat represents the possible benefits of a decision. Using the yellow hat mentality may help individuals think about the positive outcomes their decision may have.

Green (ideas): The green hat represents new ideas. When wearing the green hat, team members may focus on proposing creative solutions.

Blue (planning): This hat encourages individuals to plan their discussion and their steps forward. This can be a useful mode of thought for organizing the other hats.

White (facts): This hat encourages individuals to consider the facts involved in the decision. Wearing this hat may help team members to value data and other objective facts in their decision.

Black (judgment): This hat encourages team members to carefully consider the pros and cons of each idea.

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