Dr Edward de Bono teaches a thinking tool, known as “Six Hats” ™ or “Thinking Hats” which can be used to assist you brainstorming. It is a constructive methodical and organised method of doing something that is quite abstract: thinking. Small business owners are used to wearing many hats, so I think this method of thinking should come naturally to us.

There are six different coloured hats, which can be real or simply a metaphorical representation of how you can structure your thinking;

  • WHITE: using facts and figures the thinker strives to be neutral and objective
  • RED: the thinker is allowed to express emotions and feelings without any justification
  • BLACK: cautious, careful, the thinker  identifies what may go wrong
  • YELLOW: the thinker strives to be positive, constructive identifying the benefits
  • GREEN: creative lateral thinkers searching for the alternatives ideas
  • BLUE: focused on controlling and organising the other thinking

To enhance the effectiveness of this thinking tool the hats should be alternated amongst the team.

Another innovative brainstorming idea is to think like a teenager. I want you to take a moment and think, imagine if you handed your business over to a teenager to run for two weeks. What would they do differently? It is a question that can inspire you to think innovatively and out of the box. Teenagers may be your future staff, or your future market and it is important to test your thinking on the business you are developing.

Generation Y, today’s teenagers use alternative means of communicating, they text, and talk behind the scenes on FaceBook chat rooms, they have creative spelling, they work different hours.

Is your business able to engage with different generations?

Should you implement an advisory board?

A strong and effective advisory board can help you generate innovative ideas and assist you in working through all angles of the decision making process and developing successful and relevant business strategies. Consistently making the right decisions for your business will ensure business success. Doh!