Lateral thinking is finding way to problems through an indirect
and creative approach, using reasoning that is not immediately obvious and
involving ideas that may not be obtainable by using only traditional step by
step logic. The term developed in 1967 by Edward de Bono.
Lateral thinking techniques:
- Alternatives: how to use concepts as a breeding ground for new ideas. Sometimes we do not look beyond the obvious alternatives.
- Focus: when and how to change the focus of your thinking. You will learn the discipline of defining your focus and sticking to it.
- Challenge: breaking free from the limits of traditional thinking. With challenges, we act as though the present way of doing things is not necessarily the best.
- Random entry: using unconnected input to open up new lines of thinking.
- Provocation and Movement: generating provocative statements and using them to build new ideas.
- Harvesting: capturing your creative output. At the end of a creative-thinking session, we normally only take note of the specific ideas that seem practical and have obvious value.
- Treatment of ideas: how to develop ideas and shape them to fit an organization or situation.
