Lateral Thinking: 3 Steps to Thinking Like a Genius

Imagine that all people are walking along the same path—logical, predictable, trodden by thousands of feet. Now imagine someone who turns aside, pushes through the thickets, and discovers not just a new path but an entirely unexplored world. This is the essence of lateral thinking—the ability to step beyond familiar patterns, see what is hidden from others, and find solutions where most wouldn’t even think to look.

Unlike classical logical thinking, which moves strictly “vertically”—step by step, from cause to effect—lateral thinking operates “horizontally.” It relies on associations, provocations, imagination, and even apparent absurdity. This is why it allows us to notice non-obvious connections, turn chance into opportunity, and problems into sources of inspiration. Our brain loves familiar routes—they conserve energy, but they also limit us. Lateral thinking breaks these barriers, opening doors to real breakthroughs.

A striking example is the invention of the microwave oven. In 1945, engineer Percy Spencer was testing a magnetron—a device for radars—when he suddenly noticed that a chocolate bar in his pocket had melted. Instead of simply recording a “defect,” he asked: “What if these waves could be used to heat food?” This is how the technology that revolutionized kitchens worldwide was born. This is the power of lateral thinking: seeing potential in chance where others see only interference.

Such examples are not exceptions but proof: the world is full of hidden opportunities. You just need to learn to look from a different angle. And it is precisely this art—seeing the invisible—that this article will explore.

What is lateral thinking, and how does it differ from logical thinking?

Imagine your brain is a city with many roads. Some are wide, straight, and familiar: you travel them every day without even thinking. This is logical thinking—it takes you from point A to point B along a proven route. But there are other paths—narrow trails, unexpected turns, even imaginary bridges that exist only in your mind. This is lateral thinking: the ability to step off the “main road” to find a non-obvious, yet often more effective, path.

Why is this so important? Because the world is full of problems that cannot be solved head-on. Sometimes you need to step back, look from a different angle, or even deliberately confuse yourself to find the answer. Lateral thinking is not a chaotic flow of ideas but a systematic approach to creativity. Now, let’s break down how it works, how it differs from conventional logic, and why both types of thinking are as essential to us as two legs for walking.

Definition (Edward de Bono, 1967)

The term “lateral thinking“ (from Latin lateralis—”sideways”) was coined by British psychologist Edward de Bono in 1967. He described it as a method of problem-solving through indirect and creative approaches, using non-obvious strategies that cannot be derived step-by-step from the initial data.

Simply put:

Logical thinking says: “If A = B, and B = C, then A = C.”
Lateral thinking asks: “What if A doesn’t actually equal B? Or if C isn’t a letter but a river?”

De Bono compared lateral thinking to “digging a hole in a different place” when conventional methods hit a dead end. For example, if a door won’t open, logic suggests looking for a key or breaking the lock, while lateral thinking prompts checking if there’s an open window—or whether it’s easier to negotiate with whoever’s inside.

Comparison: Vertical (sequential) vs. Lateral (associative, flexible)

To understand the difference, imagine two ways to plan a route:

Vertical (logical) thinking

Moves step by step, like a computer program.
Relies on facts, rules, and past experience.
Aims to find the one correct solution.
Example: A math problem with a clear algorithm.

Lateral thinking

Jumps between ideas, like creative chaos.
Ignores “how it’s usually done” and “what’s correct.”
Aims to generate multiple unexpected options, even absurd ones.
Example: A designer who, instead of a chair, creates a “seating place” shaped like a cloud.

Key difference: Logic eliminates the unnecessary to arrive at the truth, while lateral thinking adds new layers to see the problem differently.

Example: Solving puzzles vs. algorithmic problems

Classical logical problem
“You have 10 coins, one of which is counterfeit (lighter). How do you find it in 3 weighings on a balance scale?”
The solution here is sequential elimination: divide the coins into groups, compare them—step by step narrowing down the possibilities.

Lateral thinking puzzle
“How can you drop a raw egg onto a concrete floor without it breaking?”
Logic would say: “Place something soft underneath, slow the fall.” But the lateral answer: “Drop it from 1 cm high—the floor won’t have time to break it.”

Why does this work?

Logic looks for a way to prevent the impact.
Lateral thinking changes the conditions of the problem (drop height = almost zero).

Lateral thinking does not replace logic—it complements it. Logic provides structure, while lateral thinking provides freedom. Together, they help uncover solutions that would otherwise remain invisible.

Why Do We Overlook Hidden Opportunities?

We live in a world overflowing with opportunities, yet most of them remain invisible to us. How does it happen that the most obvious solutions and prospects often escape our attention? The problem isn’t the lack of opportunities around us but rather how our brains work. They are wired to conserve energy—meaning they follow well-trodden paths, rely on proven patterns, and avoid uncertainty. These mechanisms helped our ancestors survive, but in the modern world, where innovation and creativity are prized, they often become obstacles to success.

To understand why we miss brilliant ideas and opportunities, we need to look inside our thinking. Three key factors – cognitive biases, functional fixedness, and fear of mistakes—create a kind of “blinders” that limit our perception. They make us see only what we expect to see and use objects and ideas only in the ways we’re accustomed to. But the good news is that once we recognize these limitations, we can learn to overcome them.

Cognitive Biases and Patterned Thinking

Our brain is a master of shortcuts, or “mental heuristics.” These cognitive biases help us make quick decisions but often lead to systematic errors. For example:

Confirmation bias: We subconsciously seek information that confirms our existing beliefs and ignore contradictory facts. It’s like wearing glasses that highlight some details while obscuring others.
Anchoring effect: The first piece of information we receive becomes an “anchor,” influencing all subsequent judgments. In salary negotiations, whoever names a number first inadvertently sets the framework for discussion.
Status quo bias: We prefer to leave things as they are, even when change is clearly beneficial. This is why switching to new technologies or altering familiar routines can feel so difficult.

Patterned thinking means reacting to new situations with old, tried-and-true methods—like an actor playing the same role in different plays. In familiar settings, this works perfectly, but when a fresh perspective is needed, we hit a dead end. Research shows that 95% of our daily decisions are made automatically, based on pre-existing patterns—which is why it’s so hard to see something truly new.

The Effect of “Functional Fixedness” (e.g., a hammer is only for nails)

This psychological phenomenon locks us into seeing objects and ideas only in their traditional roles, blinding us to alternative uses. A classic experiment: people are given a candle, a box of thumbtacks, and matches, and asked to attach the candle to the wall so that wax doesn’t drip onto the table. Most don’t realize the box can be used as a candle holder because they see it only as a container for tacks.

Functional fixedness appears in all areas of life:

In business: For decades, Xerox saw itself solely as a copier manufacturer, missing the potential of computer technology.
In daily life: We use toothpaste only for brushing teeth, even though it can remove stains or polish silver.
In creativity: Musicians play instruments the traditional way for years, overlooking hidden possibilities.

This effect is especially strong in professional settings—the more we know about the “correct” use of something, the harder it is to see unconventional applications. That’s why a newcomer’s fresh perspective can sometimes be more valuable than a veteran’s experience.

How Habits and Fear of Mistakes Block Creativity?

Habits are the autopilot of our behavior, freeing the brain for more important tasks. But when it comes to discovering new opportunities, they become a cage. Neuroscientists have found that habitual actions create “ruts” in the brain—stable neural pathways where thoughts flow with minimal resistance. The more we follow these paths, the deeper the ruts become, making it harder to veer off course.

Fear of mistakes acts as an additional brake:

In school, we were taught that mistakes are bad and that there’s only one correct answer.
In corporate culture, mistakes are often punished, and unconventional ideas meet resistance.
Social norms make us afraid of looking foolish or incompetent.

Yet the paradox is that most breakthrough discoveries happened because of “mistakes.” Penicillin, the microwave oven, vulcanized rubber—all resulted from unplanned actions, from accidents that were noticed and explored rather than dismissed as failures. Research shows that people unafraid of mistakes generate 40% more ideas on average, and among those ideas are many truly innovative ones.

Recognizing these three barriers is the first step toward seeing hidden opportunities. Once we understand that our brains are default-set to conserve energy and avoid risk, we can consciously switch them into “explorer mode.” It takes practice, but the result—the ability to see opportunities where others see only problems—is worth the effort.

How to Develop Lateral Thinking: Practical Techniques

Lateral thinking is not an innate talent but a skill that can be developed like a muscle. The good news: you don’t need to wait for inspiration or a sudden “aha” moment. There are concrete, proven techniques that help “awaken” unconventional thinking and train you to see non-obvious solutions. These methods work like mental exercise machines—the more you use them, the easier it becomes to break free from habitual patterns in everyday life.

All these techniques share one key principle: they force your brain to temporarily abandon logical connections and familiar associations. It’s like playing a game where you must deliberately break the rules to find a winning strategy. Some methods may seem strange or even pointless at first glance—but that’s precisely their power. They help bypass the internal “censor” that usually dismisses “silly” or “impractical” ideas before they can evolve into something truly valuable.

Random Stimulus Method: Connecting Unrelated Concepts (e.g., “Cloud” and “Business”)

This technique is like a “creative electric shock” for your brain. The idea is simple: take two completely unrelated concepts and try to find unexpected connections between them. For example:

Cloud and business: You could imagine a literal “cloud office” on a hot air balloon, a sales forecasting service based on cloud analysis, or the metaphor of “corporate clouds”—bureaucratic structures blocking the sunlight of innovation.

How to practice it:

Choose a random word (point to a book, use a random word generator, or specialized apps).
Connect it to your task or problem.
Write down all associations, even the most absurd ones.
Analyze which ones could be developed into practical ideas.

This method is especially useful when you feel stuck creatively. Research shows that random stimuli activate different brain regions, creating new neural connections—exactly what lateral thinking needs.

Pattern Disruption: Deliberately Seeking Absurd Solutions

Here, you consciously defy logic and common sense. Instead of looking for the “right” solution, you come up with deliberately ridiculous options, then search for rational kernels within them. For example:

Problem: How to reduce supermarket checkout lines?
Absurd solutions:

Make people stand on one leg (→ could inspire “express lanes” for customers with fewer than 5 items).
Sell only disliked products (→ analyzing frequently returned items might reveal assortment issues).
Close the store (→ could prompt investment in delivery services).

How to apply the technique:

Define the problem.
Generate 5–10 obviously silly solutions.
For each absurd idea, ask: “What rational element could be hidden here?”
Develop the most promising “kernels” into workable ideas.

This method works great in team settings—it lowers psychological barriers and creates an atmosphere where people aren’t afraid to propose “nonsense” that often turns into breakthrough ideas.

Six Thinking Hats by de Bono – Viewing a Problem from Different Angles

Edward de Bono’s Six Thinking Hats method involves “wearing” six different thinking styles, represented by colored hats:

White hat: Facts and information. Just data, no interpretations.
Red hat: Emotions and intuition. How do you feel about the problem?
Black hat: Criticism. What could go wrong?
Yellow hat: Optimism. What opportunities lie within the problem?
Green hat: Creativity. Generating new ideas without limits.
Blue hat: Process management. Organizing the thinking flow.

How to use it:

Solo: Sequentially “wear” each hat, noting thoughts in each mode.
Group: Assign roles so different participants “wear” different hats.

Example for the problem “How to improve café service?”:

White: Average order wait time is 15 minutes.
Red: Customers get irritated when waiting.
Black: Speeding up service might reduce quality.
Yellow: Could turn waiting into part of the experience.
Green: Idea—serve free mini-snacks during the wait.
Blue: First analyze data, then brainstorm ideas.

Provocative Questions: “What If We Did the Opposite?”

Provocative questions “hack” habitual thought patterns. They force you to flip the problem upside down to see new facets. Examples:

What if we did the opposite?
What if the problem were 10 times worse?
How would a child solve this?
What’s the craziest way to do this?
What if we had an unlimited budget?
How would [another industry] approach this?

Practical application:

Take a standard solution to the problem.
Ask 3–5 provocative questions.
Write down all new ideas that emerge.
Select 1–2 most promising directions.

Example for a restaurant:

Standard: Speed up service.
What if we did the opposite? → Create a “slow dining” experience with theatrical service.
How would a hospital do it? → “Diagnose” guests’ taste preferences.
Unlimited budget? → Personal chef for each table.

These techniques work best in combination—try different methods and mix them. The key is regular practice. Dedicate 10–15 minutes daily to exercises, and within a month, you’ll notice yourself spotting opportunities where you once saw only problems.

Examples of Successful Lateral Thinking Applications

Human history is full of examples where random observations, apparent failures, or even mistakes turned into revolutionary discoveries and inventions. These stories share a common thread—their protagonists didn’t overlook unexpected results but instead saw potential in them that others would have missed. This is how lateral thinking works in practice: it transforms “it didn’t work” into “what if we try it differently,” and “this is impossible” into “why not?”

These examples are especially valuable because they show that breakthrough ideas often emerge not from methodical progress toward a goal but from the ability to break away from habitual thought patterns. A scientist who, instead of discarding a “failed” experiment, asks, “Why did this happen?”; an artist who sees a dent in paper not as a defect but as a new artistic technique; a businessperson who turns a technological flop into a bestseller—all demonstrate the power of unconventional thinking.

Business: The Creation of Post-it Notes

The story of Post-it Notes is a classic example of how lateral thinking turns failure into success. In 1968, chemist Spencer Silver at 3M was trying to develop a super-strong adhesive for the aerospace industry. Instead, he created a weak, easily removable glue that seemed useless. Most would have considered the experiment a failure and moved on.

But Silver saw potential in this “failed” adhesive. For five years, he searched for applications, pitching the idea of “sticky but removable” notes to colleagues. The breakthrough came when his coworker Art Fry, frustrated by bookmarks falling out of his hymnal, remembered Silver’s invention. He applied the adhesive to small paper strips—and the idea for sticky notes was born.

Initially, 3M was skeptical, but after test marketing in 1977 (as “Press ‘n Peel”) and refinements, Post-it Notes launched globally in 1980. Today, they’re one of the most recognizable office products, and their origin story is a textbook example of innovative thinking. The key lesson: the “failed” glue wasn’t bad—it was just waiting for the right application.

Science: The Discovery of Penicillin

One of the most important medical breakthroughs of the 20th century also resulted from lateral thinking. In 1928, Alexander Fleming was studying staphylococci in his London lab. Returning from a month-long vacation, he found one of his Petri dishes contaminated with mold—and the bacteria around it had died. Most scientists would have discarded the “ruined” sample, but Fleming asked, “Why aren’t the bacteria growing near the mold?”

He discovered that the Penicillium notatum mold produced a bacteria-killing substance, which he named penicillin. Though Fleming couldn’t isolate a stable form (Florey and Chain later achieved this), his observation ushered in the antibiotic era. Estimates suggest penicillin has saved over 200 million lives.

This example highlights the importance of noticing deviations from expected results—in science and beyond. Fleming didn’t set out to discover antibiotics; he simply paid attention to an unexpected phenomenon others might have dismissed as a nuisance.

Art: Surrealism and Max Ernst’s “Frottage”

Lateral thinking shines especially brightly in art—many movements consciously reject logic and rationality. German artist Max Ernst, a surrealist pioneer, developed techniques to “trick” the conscious mind, allowing the subconscious to generate imagery.

One such technique was frottage (from French frotter, “to rub”). In 1925, Ernst noticed how a wooden floor’s texture emerged through pencil shading on paper. Instead of dismissing this as a random effect, he turned it into an artistic method: placing paper over textures (wood, fabric, leaves) and rubbing to reveal unexpected images, which he then refined.

Another technique, decalcomania, involved pressing paint between two sheets and pulling them apart to create intricate patterns. These methods produced imagery the artist’s conscious mind couldn’t have conceived deliberately.

Surrealists intentionally used lateral thinking to transcend rational creativity. Salvador Dalí called his approach the “paranoiac-critical method,” while André Breton championed “automatic writing”—spontaneous creation without conscious control. These approaches not only transformed art but also proved how productive it can be to abandon conventional thought paths.

These three examples from different fields demonstrate the universality of lateral thinking. What unites them is the ability to see value where others see only interference and the courage to pursue unexpected ideas—even if they seem absurd. As history shows, such ideas often change the world.

How to Implement Lateral Thinking in Everyday Life

Lateral thinking isn’t just a tool for rare creative insights—it’s a lifestyle that can and should be cultivated daily. Many mistakenly believe that unconventional thinking is only for designers, inventors, or advertisers. In reality, it’s useful for everyone: from parents seeking new approaches to raising children to retirees mastering digital technology. The beauty is that you can develop this skill without significant time investment—just by slightly altering habitual actions and reactions.

The key secret to success is turning exercises into an engaging game, not a chore. When you start viewing life as an experimental playground where you can try different approaches without fear of mistakes, lateral thinking kicks in automatically. Your brain gradually rewires itself, and you’ll notice unconventional solutions coming naturally—in line at the store, while driving, or during your morning shower. Let’s explore specific methods to make this transition smooth and organic.

Training Through Games

Games are the perfect simulator for lateral thinking because they create a safe space for experimentation. Here are some proven options:

Puzzles like “Black Box”
(Example: “What can you put in an empty fridge to make it full?” Answer: Light.)
These riddles train you to look for non-obvious properties of objects. Practice with friends or use apps with similar puzzles.

Metaphorical Association Cards
(e.g., “Association Cards” deck)
Draw a random image and brainstorm how it connects to your current problem. See a boat? Maybe your project needs to “set sail” or “change course.”

Board Games:

Dixit — develops associative thinking.
Imaginarium — teaches unconventional analogies.
Crocodile — trains nonverbal creative expression.

Digital Apps:

Elevate (Creativity section).
Lumosity (flexibility-thinking games).

Important: Dedicate 10–15 minutes daily to these games, but don’t take them too seriously. Humor and lightness are your allies.

The Habit of Asking “Silly” Questions and Challenging the Obvious

This seems simple but is often met with resistance. We fear looking foolish, so we default to accepting the status quo. Try these exercises:

The “5 Whys” Technique:
When faced with conventional wisdom or rules, ask “why?” five times.

Example:

Why are employees late for meetings?
→ They don’t have time to prepare beforehand.
Why can’t they prepare?
→ They arrive at the office just before the meeting.
Why do they arrive so late?
→ Bad transport schedules and packed parking after 8:30 AM.
Why are meetings at 9:00 AM?
→ It’s been company policy since day one.
Why keep this rule if it causes problems?
→ Nobody has proposed alternatives.

By the fifth “why,” it’s clear the issue isn’t employee discipline but an outdated policy. Solutions could include:

Moving meetings to 9:30 AM.
Flexible start times (e.g., 9:00–9:20 AM).
Shorter stand-up meetings.
Pre-meeting chat discussions.

This shows how five “whys” uncover root causes often hidden beneath surface-level assumptions.

“Silly Questions” Journal:
Keep a notebook and daily jot down 3–5 “forbidden” questions, like:

Why are steering wheels round, not square?
What if we brushed teeth after every meal, not just morning/night?
Why don’t airplanes have foot pillows?

Environment: Cross-Disciplinary Networking and Changing Scenery

Our thinking is deeply context-dependent. Here’s how to create a lateral-thinking-friendly environment:

Cross-Professional Connections:
Monthly, meet someone from a completely different field (farmer, programmer, musician). Ask:

How would you solve my work problem?
What metaphors from your field apply to mine?
What seems odd about my profession?

Physical Space Tweaks:

Work weekly from a new location (coworking space, library, café).
Rearrange furniture or change walking routes.
Create an “absurdity corner”—a shelf with mismatched items (e.g., an iron next to a Barbie doll and a cookbook).

Information Diet Shake-Up:

Follow 3–5 blogs/channels outside your interests.
Monthly, buy a magazine on a random topic.
Attend events outside your circle (poetry slams for techies, IT conferences for humanities folks).

Practical Tip: Start small—pick one method from each section and practice it for 21 days. For example:

Solve one puzzle each morning (from section 1).
Ask one “silly” question at lunch (section 2).
Take a new route home (section 3).

As these become habits, you’ll notice your mindset shifting—solutions that once seemed impossible will start emerging naturally.

Conclusion

In a world where information is increasingly accessible and technology evolves rapidly, lateral thinking becomes the key differentiator. Crucially, it’s not some rare gift but a learnable skill—like playing an instrument or mastering a language. While it requires practice, the good news is you can train it in ordinary situations: over morning coffee, during commutes, or even while organizing your closet.

The secret lies in permitting yourself to think outside societal norms and embracing temporary “failures.” History shows that many breakthroughs emerged from “mistakes.” When Thomas Edison said he didn’t fail 1,000 times but found 1,000 ways that didn’t work, he embodied the lateral thinker’s mindset: every “failure” is a lesson leading to unconventional solutions.

Today, right now, take a small everyday task and solve it unusually. Maybe:

Instead of retracing steps for lost keys, ask: Where would a stranger put them?
Facing a household hiccup, wonder: *How would my 5-year-old nephew handle this?*

With time, you’ll see problems as exciting challenges and spot opportunities in the mundane. Remember: The most revolutionary ideas seem crazy—until they become obvious.