Brainstorm Smarter: How to Use AI and the Six Thinking Hats to Turn Ideas Into Action

Brooke Silva
Sep 16
6 min read

So you’ve got a big idea. Maybe it’s a product, a service, or an event you can picture in your head. You’re excited for about five minutes… and then reality sets in:

“Where do I even start?”
“What if this flops?”
“How do I make it real?”

Most people don’t struggle to come up with ideas.

The hard part is moving them from spark → action → product or service. That’s where people get stuck.

Common roadblocks include:

Only seeing the fun side and ignoring risks.
Falling into analysis paralysis.
Not knowing the right questions to ask.
Jumping into action before the idea is solid.

That’s where the Six Thinking Hats method (developed by Dr. Edward de Bono) can help — especially when you pair it with AI as your brainstorming buddy.

🎩 What Are the Six Thinking Hats?

The Six Thinking Hats is a creative problem-solving method that helps you look at an idea from every angle. Instead of one messy debate in your head, you “wear” different hats to test the idea in a structured way. Each hat represents a distinct perspective:

❤️ Red Hat (Feelings): Gut reactions and emotions.
🎩 White Hat (Facts): Neutral info and data.
🟡 Yellow Hat (Benefits): Positives and opportunities.
⚫ Black Hat (Caution): Risks and weaknesses.
🌱 Green Hat (Creativity): New ideas and fresh twists.
👒 Blue Hat (Process): Organization and next steps.

By rotating through these hats, you capture passion, test risks, spark creativity, and finish with a clear plan.

Why People Get Stuck

Ideas fizzle out because we:

Don’t know what information to gather.
Second-guess ourselves.
Skip steps (dreaming without planning, or planning without creativity).
Stress-test too late, after investing time or money.

The Six Thinking Hats give you a roadmap for brainstorming so you don’t miss key steps or lose momentum.

🤖 How to Use AI as Your Expert Interviewer

You don’t have to do this alone. AI can act like a coach, walking you through your idea step by step. Instead of asking “What do you think of my idea?” try this:

👉 Use my custom GPT Brainstorm Buddy: Six Hats Edition.

Here’s what it does:

Asks if your idea is a product or service.
Has you describe it in 1–2 sentences.
Interviews you one question at a time until the idea is clear (audience, problem solved, value, risks, delivery).
Runs your idea through the Six Thinking Hats in order: Red → White → Yellow → Black → Green → Blue.
Finishes with a simple action plan so you know what to do next.

Questions You’ll Explore With the Six Hats

Here’s a deeper look at each hat and the kinds of questions you’ll be guided through:

❤️ Red Hat (Feelings – Gut Instincts and Emotions)This is where you check in with your emotions and intuition. Your gut reaction is often the spark that tells you if an idea is exciting, scary, or worth pursuing.

How do I feel about this idea right now?
What emotions might my audience feel (excitement, trust, skepticism)?
Does my gut say “yes” to this, or am I hesitating?
What excites me most about this idea?
What worries me, even if I can’t explain why?
If I had to describe my emotional reaction in one word, what would it be?

🎩 White Hat (Facts – Neutral Information and Data)Here, you strip away feelings and look at what you know for sure. It’s about gathering facts and spotting knowledge gaps.

Is this a product or service?
What do I already know about the market?
What similar products or services already exist?
How are they priced, marketed, or delivered?
What feedback or reviews do customers share about them?
Who else has tried this, and what happened?
What resources do I currently have (budget, tools, people)?
What do I need to research before I move forward?

🟡 Yellow Hat (Benefits – Optimism and Opportunities)This hat shines a light on the positives. It forces you to think about the upside, even if you’re naturally cautious.

Who benefits most from this idea?
What specific problems does it solve for them?
What’s the best-case scenario if it works?
How could this idea create long-term value?
What strengths give this idea an edge over others?
How could this idea enhance my reputation, brand, or business?
How does this align with my long-term goals or mission?

⚫ Black Hat (Caution – Risks and Weaknesses)This is where you get critical. Instead of being negative, think of this as a protective step: finding weak spots before they trip you up.

What could go wrong if I pursue this idea?
What’s the biggest risk — time, money, or reputation?
If this idea failed, why would it fail?
What objections or criticisms might I hear from customers or peers?
What would make this idea unsustainable long-term?
Are there any legal, ethical, or logistical barriers?
What assumptions am I making that could be wrong?

🌱 Green Hat (Creativity – New Angles and Fresh Thinking)This is your space to get imaginative. No judgment, no limits — just wild ideas and twists that might unlock something special.

How can I put a unique spin on this idea?
What bold version of this idea could I try if resources weren’t a concern?
How could I make this simpler, faster, or cheaper?
What partnerships, collaborations, or tools could elevate it?
What “what if” scenarios could make this even better?
How could this idea be adapted for a different audience or market?
What unconventional approach would surprise or delight people?

👒 Blue Hat (Process – Organization and Next Steps)Finally, you step back and look at the big picture. This is about turning insights into an action plan.

What’s the very first step I should take?
What should I focus on in the next 24 hours, 7 days, and 30 days?
Who do I need to involve or partner with?
What resources should I gather before starting?
How will I measure success (metrics, milestones, feedback)?
What tools or systems will help me stay on track?
What checkpoints or reviews will help me adjust as I go?

How to Use AI After the Brainstorm

Once you’ve walked your idea through the Six Thinking Hats with Brainstorm Buddy, you’ll have the essentials laid out: audience, risks, opportunities, creative twists, and a simple action plan.

Now what? This is where AI really shines.

Think of the groundwork as your blueprint. Now you can ask AI to help you build out the details and move toward execution.

👉 Here’s the key: don’t stop after the first plan. Keep asking your GPT more questions, one at a time, to push your idea further. You can even copy and paste the following questions directly into your chat and answer them step by step.

Here’s how to keep using AI, using each hat’s perspective as a springboard:

❤️ Red Hat (Feelings)

Keep testing the emotional side of your idea. Ask your GPT to:

“Act like a potential customer. What feelings or gut reactions might I have about this idea?”
“Write a testimonial from someone who’s really excited about this concept.”
“List 3 emotional triggers that could connect with my audience.”

🎩 White Hat (Facts)

Turn research gaps into action by prompting your GPT:

“Find examples of similar products or services and summarize how they’re marketed.”
“What common price ranges exist in this market?”
“List the top 5 facts or statistics I should research before moving forward.”
“Create a table comparing features of similar offerings.”

🟡 Yellow Hat (Benefits)

Transform your positives into messaging and strategy with prompts like:

“Draft 3 taglines that highlight the strongest benefits.”
“Write a one-paragraph elevator pitch for my idea.”
“Give me 5 ways to explain this idea’s value to a beginner.”
“Suggest long-term opportunities this idea could create if it succeeds.”

⚫ Black Hat (Caution)

Use AI as your risk consultant:

“List the top 5 reasons this idea might fail.”
“Pretend you’re a skeptical investor — what objections would you raise?”
“Suggest 3 ways to minimize the biggest risks.”
“Are there legal, ethical, or logistical issues I should check before moving forward?”

🌱 Green Hat (Creativity)

Keep your GPT in brainstorming mode by asking:

“Give me 5 bold variations of this idea.”
“How could I make this idea work on a small budget?”
“Suggest 3 unexpected collaborations that could make this stronger.”
“What’s a surprising delivery method that would wow my audience?”

👒 Blue Hat (Process)

Turn your insights into clear action steps:

“Draft a 30-day rollout timeline with milestones.”
“Suggest a checklist for the first 7 days of testing this idea.”
“Create a 90-day action plan with goals at each stage.”
“What tools or systems could I use to track progress?”

The Six Thinking Hats help you think through your idea. AI helps you execute your idea faster.

Without structure, AI can give you fluffy answers. With Brainstorm Buddy and the hats as your foundation, every question you ask AI gets sharper, more focused, and more useful.

Next time you think “I have an idea,” don’t stop there!!!

Use Brainstorm Buddy: Six Hats Edition to move from spark → plan — and watch your ideas come to life.