How can you learn from the examples of successful lateral thinkers in your field or industry?

2 Research your field or industry

The next step is to research your field or industry and find out how other people have approached similar or related problems or goals. You can use various sources of information, such as books, articles, podcasts, videos, blogs, forums, social media, or online courses. You can also talk to experts, mentors, colleagues, customers, or competitors. The aim is to learn from their experiences, insights, strategies, methods, tools, or results. You can use questions such as: How did they define the problem or goal? What did they do to solve it or achieve it? What worked and what didn't? What did they learn from their successes and failures?

3 Analyze the examples

The third step is to analyze the examples of successful lateral thinkers and identify the key elements that made them stand out. You need to look beyond the surface and dig deeper into the logic, reasoning, creativity, and intuition behind their solutions or achievements. You need to understand how they used lateral thinking techniques, such as challenging assumptions, asking provocative questions, using analogies, reversing perspectives, breaking rules, or combining ideas. You can use questions such as: What did they do differently or unexpectedly? How did they overcome the limitations or barriers? How did they generate or test alternatives? How did they communicate or implement their solutions or achievements?

4 Apply the lessons

The fourth step is to apply the lessons you learned from the examples of successful lateral thinkers to your own problem or goal. You need to adapt and modify their solutions or achievements to suit your context, needs, and resources. You need to experiment and test your own ideas, using feedback and data to evaluate and improve them. You need to be flexible and open-minded, and willing to change or abandon your initial assumptions, plans, or expectations. You can use questions such as: What can you borrow or adapt from their solutions or achievements? How can you apply their lateral thinking techniques to your problem or goal? What are the potential outcomes or impacts of your ideas? How can you measure or demonstrate them?

5 Reflect on your process

The fifth step is to reflect on your process and learn from your own experience. You need to review and assess your actions, results, and feedback, and identify what worked and what didn't. You need to recognize and celebrate your achievements, and acknowledge and learn from your failures. You need to document and share your findings, insights, and recommendations, and seek feedback from others. You need to identify the gaps or areas for improvement in your lateral thinking skills, and plan how to address them. You can use questions such as: What did you do well and what did you struggle with? What did you learn from your process and outcomes? How can you improve your lateral thinking skills for future problems or goals?

6 Seek inspiration

The sixth step is to seek inspiration from other sources of lateral thinking, beyond your field or industry. You need to expose yourself to different domains, disciplines, cultures, or perspectives, and learn from their approaches, methods, or solutions. You need to challenge yourself to explore new topics, interests, or hobbies, and discover new connections, patterns, or opportunities. You need to stimulate your curiosity, imagination, and creativity, and find ways to express them. You can use questions such as: What are some examples of lateral thinking in other fields or industries? How can you learn from them or apply them to your own field or industry? What are some activities or resources that can inspire your lateral thinking?

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?