Thirty Methods to Develop your Lateral Pondering

Lateral pondering includes issues in numerous methods from everybody else.  It means coming on the scenario from the facet somewhat than head on.  It includes pondering unconventional, heretical ideas that problem present norms and the established order.  Listed below are thirty methods to foster your lateral pondering:

1. Embrace Curiosity: Keep curious as you undergo life.  Ask why, why, why. Hold contemplating sidetracks and strange questions.  Don’t take something as a right.  At all times be ready to contemplate different approaches and explanations.
2. Ask Extra Questions:   Kids ask lots of of questions daily, however most adults ask only a few as a result of they suppose they already know a lot of the solutions and don’t want to seem ignorant.  Ask fundamental questions, looking out questions, childlike questions.
3. Hold an Open Thoughts.  You’ve loads of concepts and opinions however at all times be ready to contemplate solely totally different factors of view.  Pressure your self to countenance alternate options.
4. Combine with Folks Who Suppose In a different way. Likelihood is that the majority of your mates and colleagues are such as you in background and opinions.  Intentionally expose your self to a wide range of cultures and views to broaden your pondering.
5. Problem Assumptions: Query present norms and assumptions. Search for different viewpoints and options.
6. Ponder the Reverse: Go additional and ask, ‘What if the other have been true?’  It’s going to lead you to inventive concepts.
7. Set Apart Time for Creativity: Our brains are cluttered with urgent duties.  Observe mindfulness to clear your thoughts and create house. Dedicate particular time in your schedule for day dreaming, inventive pondering and creativeness.
8. Harness the Random:  Intentionally introduce random concepts into your pondering.  Seize a random phrase from the dictionary, a random image, tune or object and drive connections together with your problem.
9. Learn Extensively: Learn books, articles, and content material from totally different fields to achieve a broader data base.  Learn fiction and nonfiction.
10. Experiment and Take Dangers: Lateral thinkers don’t belief fashions or theories; they belief experiments.  Don’t be afraid to strive new issues and take calculated dangers.
11. Be taught from Failure:  Each experiment that fails and each mistake can train a lesson.  Deal with failure as a invaluable studying expertise.
12. Keep Constructive: Preserve a constructive mindset, as negativity can stifle creativity. Give attention to options somewhat than issues.
13. Create a Stimulating Atmosphere: Encompass your self with inspiring and artistic parts to encourage modern pondering.
14. Play Video games: Be playful. Deal with the whole lot as a sport however one the place you may cheat and use crafty ways to win. 
15. Use Root Trigger Evaluation:  Earlier than you begin pondering up options just be sure you are tackling the true sources of the problem.
16. Brainstorming Periods: Arrange brainstorming classes with colleagues to generate a large number of concepts. Use an exterior facilitator and a wide range of strategies.
17. Steady Studying: Keep up to date on the newest tendencies and applied sciences inside your business and in different fields.
18. Join Unrelated Concepts: Discover connections between seemingly unrelated ideas to generate contemporary views.  Search for bizarre combos.
19. Journey:  Go to different nations and cultures.  Go to artwork galleries and museums.  Take up totally different philosophies and values.
20. Take Breaks: Enable your thoughts to relaxation and recharge. Take train.  Go for lengthy walks.  Breaks can result in enhanced focus and artistic pondering.
21. Be Humorous: Humour is a type of lateral pondering. Consider witty, humorous or absurd feedback and concepts that amuse you and others.
22. Mannequin Your self on Inventive Folks:   Learn biographies of inventive individuals in all walks of life – from Leonardo da Vinci to Girl Gaga.  Which of their approaches or strategies are you able to copy?
23. Embrace Ambiguity: Lateral thinkers are suspicious of certainty.  They’re snug with doubt and ambiguity.  Search for different meanings and explanations.
24. Be Outrageous.  Be ready to offend individuals by providing outlandish, scandalous or outrageous concepts or approaches.  Be daring however first estimate the danger.
25. Break the Guidelines: Record all the principles that apply after which take into account what would occur in case you broke them separately.
26. Go For Amount:  Don’t search for one good thought.  Search for ten.  When you will have an awesome thought don’t cease.  Hold on the lookout for extra concepts after which refine the very best ones.
27. Ask for Assist:  Ask individuals from utterly totally different fields for his or her views and concepts.
28. Reframe the Drawback: Typically the way in which that the issue is articulated can prohibit your pondering.  Strive expressing the problem in a very totally different approach and it’ll assist you to suppose otherwise.
29. Carry a Pocket book:  Take a pocket book with you to jot down your musings and concepts. Writing can stimulate the mind.
30. Reverse the Drawback: As a substitute of attempting to unravel the issue consider methods to make it worse.  Then reverse these concepts to see the place that leads.

And eventually, here’s a bonus thought.

• Sleep on it: Ponder your problem after which get a superb evening’s sleep.  A lateral thought might are available a dream, or the following morning within the bathe or on the journey to work.

Lateral pondering is a talent that may be developed and nurtured over time. Incorporating these practices into your routine can assist foster a extra modern and lateral mindset.