In a world where we are constantly looking for the most direct path to the goal, we often forget the power of thinking laterally. Lateral thinking is about leaving the main road of thinking – the most logical and expected path – and instead exploring the small, strenuous side tracks.
Paradoxically, these paths can often turn out to be faster to the solution, because they lead us to new perspectives and alternative solutions that the logical path would never have revealed.
What is lateral thinking?
The concept of “lateral thinking” was first popularized by Edward de Bono, a pioneer in creative problem-solving methods. He described it as “thinking laterally” – a method of breaking free from the brain’s habitual patterns and creating new ideas by provoking unexpected connections. Where logical thinking follows linear patterns, lateral thinking is about jumping onto other tracks, even if they initially seem trivial or even illogical.
De Bono also advocated that thinking should be a subject in school, just like math or language, to emphasize that there are different kinds of thinking. He even introduced the word “po” – short for “provocative operation” – as a signal to leave the realm of logical thinking to explore alternative ideas.
Lateral thinking in practice
A classic example of lateral thinking involves the problem of a truck stuck under a low bridge. The most logical path might be to try to raise the bridge or use tools to pry or pull the truck free. But a simple lateral solution? Let the air out of the tires to lower the truck slightly and back it out.
This is precisely where the power of lateral thinking lies – it may seem banal at first, but it opens doors to solutions that are both simpler and faster than the logical highways.
Helping your brain think laterally
The brain is naturally lazy and often follows the “law of least resistance”, it is easier to do what someone has done before. To think laterally, we need to help it break free from its habitual tracks. This is done through various thought provocations and impulses, such as:
- Random words: Choose a completely random word and try to connect it to the problem you want to solve. For example, a word like “balloon” with properties such as flexible, stretchable, inflatable, etc. can inspire ideas about lightness or flexibility.
- Reversal: Turn the problem upside down. Instead of asking “How do we do this cheaper?” you can ask “How do we make this extremely expensive?” to discover new perspectives.
- Limitations: Insert made-up rules to stimulate creativity, such as only using recycled materials in a solution.
Can AI help with lateral thinking?
Artificial intelligence can be an excellent tool to help with lateral thinking. By asking AI to explain an area or even to come up with unexpected suggestions or alternative angles, you can get impulses that help you think laterally. However, it is important to understand that AI builds its suggestions on patterns from the main paths of human thinking – it is therefore a tool, not a creative machine. AI can provoke your thoughts, but it is still you who must dare to jump to the sidelines.
The challenge of lateral thinking
One of the biggest obstacles to lateral thinking is that it can seem like an overly simple method for difficult problems. Using a random word or deliberately creating “crazy” ideas can feel trivial and childish. But these are precisely the techniques that often break the rigid patterns of the brain and open up new solutions – if you master them. Lateral thinking requires practice and the courage to let go of the obvious, which sounds simple but requires a lot of practice to be good at it.
Lateral Thinking in a Complex World
The world is becoming increasingly complex and difficult to navigate. Traditional solutions and thinking patterns inside the box are no longer enough to deal with today’s challenges. Here, lateral thinking becomes a crucial tool for looking at challenges in a new way. By thinking outside the box – and perhaps leaving it completely – we can find new ways to understand and solve problems, whether it concerns business challenges, sustainability issues or technological innovations.
Dare to take side tracks. They often lead to unexpected and positive ideas.
