Introduced in1967 in his New Think: The Use of Lateral Thinking, Edward de Bono’s contra-logical approach has become a well established part of today's creative thinking methods and approaches.

Lateral Thinking is a deliberate, systematic creative-thinking process that deliberately looks at challenges from completely different angles. By introducing specific, unconventional thinking techniques, lateral thinking enables thinkers to find novel solutions that would otherwise remain uncovered. 

Lateral thinking focuses on what could be rather than what is possible and centers around four directives – (1) recognizing the dominant ideas that polarize the perception of a problem, (2) searching for different ways of looking at things, (3) relaxing rigid control of thinking, and (4) using chance to encourage other ideas.

Seven techniques or mental tools help carry out these directives with the goal of eliciting unpredictable ideas, which may turn out to be novel and useful solutions to the problem being addressed, following –

• Alternatives: Use concepts to breed new ideas.

• Focus: Sharpen or change your focus to improve your creative efforts.

• Challenge: Break free from the limits of accepted ways of operating.

• Random Entry: Use unconnected input to open new lines of thinking.

• Provocation: Move from a provocative statement to useful ideas.

• Harvesting: Select the best of early ideas and shape them into useable approaches.

• Treatment of Ideas: Develop ideas and shape them to fit an organization or situation.

Improving these skills can be challenging as lateral thinking comes more naturally to some people than others. However, like everything else, practice makes perfect, and setting yourself lateral thinking examples can help. Try lateral thinking today.