What are some tools or resources that can help you practice and improve your lateral thinking skills?

Once again AI has completely missed the point. In the context of Lateral Thinking the point being: there is a great deal of difference between being a 'lateral thinker' and using 'lateral thinking'. The term 'lateral thinking' was coined by Dr Edward de Bono in the late 1960s. Furthermore, the tools of Lateral Thinking where invented by de Bono to solve the problem of the human brain (mind) not being naturally creative (his primary theory). If anyone wants to practice and improve their Lateral Thinking skills, they need to learn how to correctly use de Bono Lateral Thinking tools first. Most of the suggestions on the AI-generated list are only providing false hope and some of them, like using SCAMPER or mind mapping, are not correct.

Daydream and venture to places you don't usually go. Pay close attention to all the details. Sit at a café and observe people and their actions. Imagine how they interact with each other, what their apartments look like, their lives, and their challenges. In my experience, playing these mind games fosters a higher level of creativity. However, some preparation is needed. Ensure you have had enough sleep and don't do this on an empty stomach, as your senses and creativity could be hindered."

Study a technique called TRIZ.. it will take time and study. Based on brilliant work that looked at patents which were based on breakthrough thinking. This was distilled into a series of principles. #triz

Go straight to the source, "Lateral Thinking: Creativity Step by Step." by the late psychologist Edward de Bono. Edward is the originator of the term 'Lateral Thinking', writing over 85 books with translations into 46 languages so he knows his stuff. In Lateral Thinking, De Bono provides a number of approaches and systems to help you solve problems from creative and unconventional angles. What I found fascinating and helpful was how applicable each of the techniques were to not only business problems but professional and personal ones as well. A vital resource when it comes to powering 'out of the box thinking'. Highly recommended.

Before you immerse yourself in the journey of lateral thinking, understand why you are doing it. It is something other than what you do ad-hoc, expecting to become creative overnight. It's a habit, perhaps even a part of certain personality traits. Suppose you feel that embracing diversity, the new, the unexpected, paying attention to details, and, most importantly, being a generalist aligns differently from your current role and needs. In that case, there might be a better approach for you.

Here are 4 of my favourites: Reversal: Turn problems upside down. Want more clients? Think about how to lose them instead. Sounds crazy, but it reveals hidden strategies. Displacement: Change your environment. Swap the boardroom for a coffee shop. New stimulus sparks new thoughts. Cross-fertilization: Blend ideas from different teams or sectors. It’s like a brainstorming potluck – everyone brings something to the table. Provocation: Ask 'What if?' questions. What if we had limitless budgets? Remember to create a judgment-free zone (especially for yourself). Encouraging a safe environment where all ideas are welcomed without criticism is crucial. This openness fuels creativity and makes it an inclusive team sport.

I think we need to talk about cognitive exercises and the role of GPT. It's an amazing tool that provides an powerful interaction as an iterative conversation. ChatGPT provides a "Socratic dialogue" that drives learning and interest. It's fundamentally the future of learning and education.

Pour que ces techniques soient vraiment efficaces, il est important de les appliquer régulièrement dans des contextes variés. La pratique constante aide à maîtriser ces outils et à les intégrer naturellement dans votre processus créatif, rendant la pensée latérale une partie intégrante de votre approche professionnelle et personnelle. Chaque technique peut être adaptée en fonction du contexte et des besoins spécifiques. Par exemple, la cartographie mentale peut être plus utile pour des projets complexes, tandis que l’association de mots aléatoires peut servir à des sessions de brainstorming rapide. La flexibilité d’utilisation de ces méthodes est un atout précieux pour divers types de défis créatifs.

One fun way I try to practice lateral thinking is inspired by spy novels. I'll pick a funky political happening, like say, when OpenAI tried to oust Sam Altman, and ask "Cui bono?" (who benefits?). Identifying hidden interests connected to such events--even if they are hypothetical or even improbable--is an exercise in identifying relationships between systems. Learning to see "conspiracies" like this is a skill that can help you uncover hidden paths and possibilities in your own challenges.

An example of a tool to collect feedback, augment collaboration, and improve lateral thinking throughout an organization is DirectSuggest's award-winning employee suggestion box app. DirectSuggest makes it simple for employees to make suggestions surrounding company created categories on any device with the assurance they automatically arrive to the proper decision-maker. Every employee can also collaborate on suggestions to enhance the quality of the idea. Learn more at https://www.DirectSuggest.com.

Consider enrolling in improv classes; my lateral thinking game significantly improved because I discovered that the best improv scenes are the ones where all team members 'yes and' each other's offers. To enhance lateral thinking, gather your own team and ensure a safe environment where all ideas (offers) are accepted ('yes ands') - it's a foolproof way to generate the best ideas (scenes). The key is to create psychological safety so that no idea is left unrealized. Alternatively, if the improv spotlight isn't up your alley, then go with brainwriting. This is where the group is presented with a problem, and they write down their ideas to be considered anonymously.

Les erreurs et les échecs sont souvent des sources précieuses d'apprentissage. Ils offrent des opportunités de réflexion critique et d'ajustement des stratégies. Une attitude ouverte face aux erreurs permet d’en tirer des leçons constructives et d’améliorer ses approches futures. Cette résilience est essentielle pour cultiver une pensée latérale efficace. La réflexion sur les résultats des expérimentations est fondamentale. En examinant ce qui a fonctionné ou non, on peut affiner ses méthodes et renforcer ses capacités de résolution de problèmes. Cette analyse aide à identifier des modèles ou des tendances qui peuvent être exploités pour résoudre d’autres problèmes de manière innovante.

Experimentation and not being afraid of failure, exposure, and criticism are critical if you want to embrace lateral thinking and enhance your generalist perspective. Talk with experts, share your thoughts, and learn from these experiments. Study a specific problem in your company or society and develop a logical projection of how it might evolve in the short term. Observe what happens and learn from any deviations. It's all about being open and, most importantly, investing time in these activities.

When we talk about a mindset and habits associated with being a polymath or a generalist, we're referring to someone who indulges in daydreaming yet can contextualize these visions within the practical frameworks of organizations or society. If you're a specialist, this journey might not appeal to you, and your mindset could be different – and that's perfectly fine. Speaking from my experience, being a generalist is beautiful. You can explore various business ventures and generate ideas on numerous topics. However, it's also challenging, as society and companies tend to be more oriented towards specialists.

La pensée latérale peut être intimidante car elle implique souvent de sortir de sa zone de confort. Cultiver un état d’esprit qui surmonte la peur et le doute permet de prendre des risques calculés et d’expérimenter sans être paralysé par la crainte de l’échec. Développer des habitudes régulières de réflexion et d’apprentissage est essentiel pour intégrer la pensée latérale dans sa vie quotidienne. Prendre le temps de réfléchir aux succès et échecs passés, ainsi que de se former en continu, renforce cette compétence et la rend plus naturelle.