Lateral Thinking with Dr. Edward de Bono
Dr. Edward de Bono, a prominent British-born physician and widely acknowledged pioneer in the field of creative thinking, coined the term lateral thinking in 1967 to describe a form of out-of-the-box thinking that focuses on “disrupting an old pattern in order to go beyond it.” Lateral thinking, which comprises the practice of recognizing and questioning existing assumptions, represents an active approach to thinking wherein a problem is solved in a creative, rather than a logical, way.
A disciple of the long-established yet often unacknowledged idea of brainstorming, Dr. de Bono developed four distinct lateral thinking techniques:
1. Exploring assumptions: By introducing fresh perspectives and questioning existing assumptions, problem solvers can stimulate their creativity and increase the chances of arriving at novel solutions and revolutionary ideas.
2. Random stimulation: The purpose of this technique is to engage in thoughts and concepts far removed from the norm, without any consideration of how the connection was made. Random stimulation helps cultivate the imagination and uncover possibilities overlooked during the regular problem-solving process.
3. Provocation: This method encourages creative leaps by deliberately introducing contradictory or paradoxical ideas as stimuli. The encounter of opposite forces sets into motion new possibilities of thought, often leading to remarkable solutions and unique concepts.
4. Alternative solutions: New ways of looking at old problems are essential components of successful lateral thinking. Ideas that seem innocuous can actually be the impetus for catalyzing great ideas, thus it is important to remain open to entertaining a variety of solutions that may not present immediate solutions, but have the potential to become solutions since they further explore the topic.
Apart from devising techniques, Dr. Edward de Bono also proposed a range of tools designed to facilitate effective lateral thinking. For example, his Six Thinking Hats extends the metaphor of a thought process through six different colored hats. The color-coded hats are a way to narrow focus, attend to any issues or concerns, and eliminate distractions in order to maintain the momentum of a discussion.
Lateral thinking has become a key ingredient in problem-solving forums everywhere and is highly popular in the field of business, education, and psychology. Thanks to the pioneering work of Dr. Edward de Bono, lateral thinking is now widely accepted as an essential form of creative thinking. In his book “Lateral Thinking Creativity Step by Step,” he wrote: “Creative energy begins to flow when the mind is open and able to think laterally. This means looking at things from different angles, not accepting the first solution, and being able to find the unusual in the usual.”
