The survival and growth of small businesses are at stake due to a highly competitive market. In such a devastating situation, they need to make quick, smart, and informed decisions for the betterment. However, there are many efficient frameworks for making the best decisions. However, "Six Thinking Hats" by Edward de Bono is the best and most practical of all. It is a problem-solving tool that offers an effective strategy for leadership, innovation, and clarity. It is more than just a brainstorming method, but a practical way to grow your small business.

If you understand the term 'six hat thinking' and how to apply it properly, it can help you a lot. It helps small businesses to survive and thrive by encouraging different perspectives. In this article, we explain all about this perfect decision-making theory, including its importance and benefits. Stick with us, and you'll learn all about the six hat thinking methods.

What is Six Hat Thinking?

To organize and simplify the thinking, Edward de Bono introduced the theory of six thinking hats. Each of the six hats represents the thinking style in various ways. These hats enable teams, departments, and individuals to examine problems from multiple angles.

Let’s try to understand through the brief Six Thinking Hats summary,

White Hat

It focuses on data collection and fetching, all the facts and essential information of the business.

Red Hat

It represents the emotions, gut feelings, and intuition of a team and individuals that can be in favor of the business.

Black Hat

It analyzes the risks, passes the critical judgment, and examines what can go wrong with an efficient business strategy.

Yellow Hat

It shows optimism and passion for business. It also focuses on the benefits and value of any business strategy. 

Green Hat

It indicates the creativity and new ideas in the business. Innovation that makes a small business thrive and survive.

Blue Hat

It focuses on process control and summarizes all practical business strategies. It enables businesses to consider the broader perspective.

You might have seen the Zendaya hat theory meme in a humorous context in pop culture. Still, in reality, this theory is actually quite profound in the world of small businesses.

Why 6 Hat Thinking Is Important for Small Businesses

Limited resources are a common challenge faced by any small business. They have smaller working teams and a high level of certainty. In such circumstances, the 6 hat thinking approach becomes more vital for small businesses. 

The Six Hats of Leadership approach is necessary for small business owners.

This thinking methodology offers support and all the necessary information about risks and pitfalls.

How to Use 6 Hat Thinking for Small Businesses?

With the six hat thinking strategy, the proper implementation is also essential for small businesses. How a small business can utilize the Six Thinking Hats approach in its everyday decision-making processes. The process has two key steps that make the implementation easy and effective.

Identify the Problem

Problem identification is essential and the first step in implementing this strategy for small businesses. For example, a local cosmetic brand redesigns its custom-printed cosmetic boxes to attract potential buyers.

Assign the Hats

Arrange a team meeting and assign the hat to each person or the team to make the working environment more efficient.

White Hat

To review the customer feedback, environmental packaging stats, and cost estimates, assign the white hat to a team or individual.

Red Hat

To analyze the current product packaging and how the team feels about it, or whether it matches the brand’s emotional and visual appeal.

Black Hat

Assign a black hat to a separate individual or team to understand the downsides of switching suppliers and the associated increased costs. 

Yellow Hat

Form a team to analyze the benefits of new packaging, how to increase sales, and win customer trust through sustainability. 

Green Hat

Give your team a task to think outside the box by using biodegradable wrappers and see-through-infused tags, as well as reusable cups. 

Blue Hat

To keep the meetings on track and summarize all discussed points for each team, leaders must act according to the blue hat strategy.

With the help of this procedure, you can use the true and full potential of every individual and team that is taking part in the process of your business growth.

How Do Small Businesses Make Decisions?

Many factors influence the decisions of small businesses, unlike those of larger firms or brands. Let’s discuss the factors that affect how small businesses make decisions. 

Although all these strategies are short-sighted and emotionally driven, sometimes they are effective and sometimes not. Six thinking hats enhance decision-making power, enabling small businesses to make well-structured decisions while maintaining agility and flexibility.

Benefits of the 6 Hats Method of Critical Thinking for Small Businesses

There are numerous benefits to using the 6 Hats of Leadership model for small businesses. Let’s have a look at them.

All these advantages are also related to the improved, biodegradable, and top-notch printed lip gloss boxes, making them a perfect marketing strategy for any small business.

Is Packaging Somewhere in This 6 Hats Thinking Method?

Yes, packaging is an integral and valuable part of the use case for six hats thinking. From white to blue hats, it plays a vital role in decision-making. It is highly impactful and important, considering the cost per unit and the reasons to evoke customers’ trust, as well as analysing its environmental harmful effects and all possible impacts on brand value and product market.

That thing made the packaging more than just an afterthought, but a strategic decision for brands to make for the survival and growth of their small businesses.

Final Thoughts

This efficient method provides small businesses with a powerful framework for rapid growth and confident success. From logic to risk and various implementations of different strategies, this Six Thinking Hats method offers a well-designed business structure for perfect rebranding, launching new products, and optimizing team effort for business success.

From the red hat to the blue hat dynamic, the six thinking hats examples make it clear that they enhance your decision-making power, so if you are stuck on a decision related to any business department, from marketing to team optimization, put on all six thinking hats immediately.