I like to think (often to my own detriment). I even like to think about thinking. (I know – nerdy!). In both my professional life and my personal life I like to utilize lateral thinking tools. These tools are especially helpful if you (or the group you are working with) are stuck.

Lateral thinking is “the solving of problems by an indirect and creative approach, typically through viewing the problem in a new and unusual light.”

When reading Daniel Pink’s book, Drive, I learned about a tool to help get the creative juices flowing. It is called Oblique Strategies: Over One Hundred Worthwhile Dilemmas. It is a set of cards that poses challenging constraints, a reframing statement or a wicked question. I have only started playing with the ideas but so far a couple of my favourites – and when I say favourite I mean face-palm – are:

• Honour thy error as a hidden intention
• What would your closest friend do?
• Ask your body
• Remove specifics and convert to ambiguities
• A line has two sides

Not surprisingly there is an app for Oblique Strategies – so even on the fly, you can get a jolt for your creative juices!