What Is Hexagonal Thinking? Plus, 13 Examples To Inspire You

Hexagonal thinking is a cognitive strategy that helps individuals explore and analyze complex problems by breaking them down into smaller interconnected parts. It gets its name from the hexagon shape, which represents each component or idea related to the central concept or problem.
This approach allows for a deeper understanding of the connections and relationships between different elements and encourages creative and multidimensional thinking. Hexagonal thinking can be applied to various fields, such as education, problem-solving, and decision-making.
To inspire you, here are 13 examples of how hexagonal thinking can be used:
1. Education: Hexagonal thinking can be used in lesson planning to map out the key concepts, skills, and connections between different subjects or topics.
2. Problem-solving: When faced with a complex problem, hexagonal thinking helps break it down into smaller components and identify potential solutions.
3. Mind mapping: Hexagonal thinking can be used as a tool for visualizing and organizing ideas, allowing for better brainstorming and creative problem-solving.
4. Decision-making: By using hexagonal thinking, you can consider multiple factors, perspectives, and alternatives before making a decision.
5. Strategic planning: Hexagonal thinking helps identify the key drivers and interdependencies in a strategic plan, enabling better alignment and execution.
6. Innovation: Hexagonal thinking encourages thinking outside the box and exploring new connections and possibilities, leading to innovative ideas and solutions.
7. Analysis: Hexagonal thinking helps analyze complex data sets, identifying patterns, trends, and relationships for better insights and decision-making.
8. Concept mapping: Hexagonal thinking can be used to visually map out the relationships between different concepts and ideas, aiding in knowledge organization and retention.
9. Design thinking: Hexagonal thinking aligns with the iterative design process, allowing designers to explore and refine ideas through constant feedback and reflection.
10. Project management: Hexagonal thinking helps identify and manage dependencies, risks, and resources in a project, leading to better planning and execution.
11. Systems thinking: Hexagonal thinking promotes understanding complex systems by exploring the interactions and feedback loops between different elements.
12. Critical thinking: Hexagonal thinking encourages critical thinking skills by challenging assumptions, analyzing evidence, and considering multiple perspectives.
13. Creativity: Hexagonal thinking can stimulate creative thinking by encouraging the exploration of unconventional connections and ideas.
In conclusion, hexagonal thinking is a powerful framework that can help individuals approach complex problems with a multidimensional perspective. By breaking down problems into interconnected parts, we can gain new insights, generate innovative ideas, and make more informed decisions.