Lateral Thinking
Creativity Step By Step By Edward De Bono
Book Summary
How do you problem solve in a flash, create world changing innovations or get over a creative block? Lateral thinking, it’s is a mindset that encourages thinking outside the box, exploring unconventional angles, and finding creative solutions. And what better way then to learn from the late Edward de Bono. With faculty appointments at Oxford, London, Cambridge, and Harvard, and over 60 books under his belt, de Bono is the heavyweight champion of thinking outside the box with his smarts inside this book.
Here are the top 5 ideas from Lateral Thinking:
Big Idea #1: Break Patterns
De Bono says, 'The mind functions to create patterns out of its surroundings. The mind's pattern system is incredibly efficient, but it can also be restrictive. De Bono explains that once patterns are established, they become the default through which we interpret new information. For example, De Bono shares an anecdote about a reading lamp that wouldn't work. The person checked the bulb and the fuse, but it was actually the guest who had turned off the lamp by the switch on the base, not the wall switch which the person usually used. This story illustrates how our established patterns can blind us to simple solutions.
Are the patterns in your mind helping you, or are they trapping you in a cycle of the same old thinking?
Big Idea #2: Swap Vertical For Lateral
De Bono contrasts lateral thinking with vertical thinking through various examples. Vertical thinking is sequential and logical, while lateral thinking can involve jumps and provoke new patterns. Consider the scenario where vertical thinking is like digging a hole deeper, while lateral thinking is akin to digging a hole in a different place altogether. De Bono suggests that you cannot find a new place to dig by simply continuing to dig the same hole deeper. This metaphor beautifully encapsulates the essence of lateral thinking—it's about changing your thought process to explore new possibilities.
Have you ever had a moment where a non-linear approach led you to a breakthrough?
Big Idea #3: Deliver Analogies
Analogies stand out as an effective method in lateral thinking for their ability to shift our perspective and lead us to new insights. I also love analogies as I find them more effective because they can be more relatable and digestable. Edward de Bono underscores that analogies are not about finding direct comparisons but about stimulating thought and provoking new patterns of thinking.
Here’s an analogy he suggests of a traveller in a strange country trying to find the railway station to think about the problem of finding one's way in fog. This analogy can lead to considering strategies such as seeking guidance, following signs, or even retracing steps, which can then be applied to navigating through any unclear situation.
Big Idea #4: Enter And Pay Attention
Entry points and attention areas are crucial for restructuring information in new and innovative ways. Edward de Bono highlights the significance of these concepts, emphasizing that the choice of entry point can often determine the direction and effectiveness of our thinking process.
This is akin to entering a familiar building through a different door and discovering new passages and rooms you hadn't noticed before. Attention areas also play a vital role. De Bono points out that attention often settles over the most obvious areas, but a slight shift in attention can restructure a situation. He suggests deliberately rotating attention over all parts of the problem, especially those which do not seem to merit it. This is like a detective considering not just the main suspect but also the least likely ones, which may lead to unexpected breakthroughs.
How can you apply the concept of entry points and attention areas to your professional challenges?
Big Idea #5: Embrace Randomness
Embrace randomness and chance. The use of random stimuli can provoke a large number of different ideas in a short period of time, which might not have been arrived at through straightforward vertical thinking.
Let’s say we’re trying to solve for a more effective way to study and we were randomly given the word raisin. To me, this random work sparks the idea that ‘raisins in oatmeal cookies are super enjoyable’ or they are ‘nature’s own small pockets of sweetness’, which could then be metaphorically applied to the concept of ‘studying more effectively is making it more enjoyable’ let’ say through chill study music or small pockets of sweetness by interspersing it with tea breaks.
Bonus tip: Be Judgement Free
Lateral thinking thrives in an environment where judgment is suspended and ideas are welcomed with openness. It is essential to refrain from immediate judgment and to be receptive to all ideas, regardless of how unconventional they may seem.
Here’s are recap of the five big ideas:
Break Patterns to kick start lateral thinking
Swap Vertical For Lateral as both ways in thinking help
Deliver analogies to stimulate thought
Enter and pay attention for other unique angles
Embrace Randomness to spark further ceativity
Be Judgement Free to generate the best ideas
Keep bending those thoughts and breaking those molds. Catch you on the flip side of thinking!