Today . . . I am thinking about a daily tips post I received from IMC (Institute of Management Consultants). Like most people, I subscribe to a couple of daily email sites that pop professionally relevant and/or personally inspiring thoughts into my inbox each morning.
This one came in on the topic of lateral thinking.
Do you know what lateral thinking is? Ever heard of it before?
Here's what IMC's daily tips post had to say. I think lateral thinking is a good reminder to entrepreneurial women to think laterally outside the box for solutions and answers. For in doing so, you will look creatively past the problem to an inner inspired solution -- Inner Samurai style.
The phrase lateral thinking is often attributed to psychologist Edward de Bono in the late 1960s. Defined simply, lateral thinking is the act of attempting to solve problems by employing alternative methods rather than the more conventional approaches of linear and logical thinking. De Bono points out that, in day to day life, we often assume, accept without question and readily employ preconceptions about a particular problem even though they are not explicitly stated. Lateral thinking demonstrates that we often need to look past or challenge these preconceived and accepted notions in order to derive the correct solution.
Here is an example of a well known lateral thinking puzzle:
You're riding a white horse. To your immediate right is an imposing cliff. In front of you is a large grey elephant traveling at the very same pace that you are. No matter how hard you try, you can't seem to pass that elephant. To make matters worse, to your immediate left is a hippopotamus running at the very same speed as you. Directly behind you, there appears to be a fierce-looking lion giving you chase. Now you are frightened! How can you escape to safety?
Answer: Wait until the ride is over and get off the merry-go-round!
So, what do you think about lateral thinking? Do you see it as something you can use? Something you have used?
Let us know your thoughts and experiences with lateral thinking. How did things turn out for you when you used lateral thinking?
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