role-playing
Explore problems from multiple perspectives through structured role-playing techniques. Use when user wants to "see different viewpoints", "consider perspectives", "what would X think", "six hats", "stakeholder view", "persona analysis", or needs to understand how different people would approach a problem.
When & Why to Use This Skill
The Role-Playing Perspective Explorer is a strategic Claude skill designed to enhance decision-making and problem-solving through structured cognitive frameworks. By utilizing proven methodologies such as De Bono's Six Thinking Hats, Stakeholder Roundtables, and Persona Analysis, this tool helps users break free from habitual thinking patterns, identify hidden risks, and build empathy by simulating diverse viewpoints and expert personas.
Use Cases
- Strategic Decision Making: Use the 'Six Thinking Hats' technique to evaluate a major business pivot, ensuring that emotional, factual, creative, and critical perspectives are all systematically addressed.
- Stakeholder Alignment: Conduct a virtual 'Stakeholder Roundtable' to surface potential conflicts and hidden interests before launching cross-departmental initiatives.
- User Experience Research: Perform 'Persona Analysis' to role-play as different target customers, testing whether a new product feature effectively solves specific user pain points.
- Risk Assessment & Mitigation: Employ the 'Black Hat' perspective to rigorously challenge a project plan, uncovering 'unknown unknowns' and potential failure points that standard reviews might overlook.
- Creative Brainstorming: Switch to 'Green Hat' mode to foster lateral thinking and generate innovative solutions without the immediate constraints of critical judgment.
| name | role-playing |
|---|---|
| description | Explore problems from multiple perspectives through structured role-playing techniques. Use when user wants to "see different viewpoints", "consider perspectives", "what would X think", "six hats", "stakeholder view", "persona analysis", or needs to understand how different people would approach a problem. |
| allowed-tools | Read |
Role-Playing - Perspective Explorer
Explore problems by deliberately adopting different viewpoints. See what you're missing by thinking as others would think.
Quick Start
- Identify the problem or decision to explore
- Select technique based on what perspectives you need
- Work through each perspective systematically
Technique Selection
| Need | Use | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Structured thinking modes | Six Thinking Hats | Separates emotion, facts, creativity, critique |
| Multiple stakeholder views | Stakeholder Roundtable | Surfaces conflicting interests |
| User-centered insights | Persona Analysis | Tests against real user types |
Default: Use Six Thinking Hats for general exploration.
Techniques
Six Thinking Hats
Examine ideas through six distinct thinking modes. Everyone wears the same hat at once.
Read cookbook/six-hats.md
Stakeholder Roundtable
Role-play as different stakeholders to surface hidden concerns and conflicts.
Read cookbook/stakeholder-roundtable.md
Persona Analysis
Test ideas against specific user personas to ensure solutions fit real people.
Read cookbook/persona-analysis.md
Core Principles
- Commit to the role - Think AS the perspective, not ABOUT it
- Suspend your own view - Your opinion comes later
- Surface conflicts - Disagreement between perspectives is valuable data
- Document insights - Capture what each perspective reveals
- Synthesize at the end - Bring perspectives together after exploring each
When Role-Playing Works Best
- Decisions affecting multiple groups
- Ideas that feel "obviously right" (need challenge)
- Complex problems with no clear answer
- Building empathy for users or stakeholders
- Breaking out of habitual thinking patterns
Warning Signs You Need This
- "We already know what users want"
- "Everyone agrees this is the right approach"
- "We didn't consider that perspective"
- Surprised by stakeholder reactions after launch