The formal skills of lateral thinking can be very effective.  There are also the basic skills of creativity and when these are in place, lateral thinking becomes much more powerful and effective.

However, these skills do not come naturally and must be developed and practised - then after a while they might become natural habits of the mind.

In my latest book, “How to have Creative Ideas: 62 Exercises to Develop the Mind”, there are 62 exercises designed to develop the basic skills and habits of creative thinking.  There are no right answers.  You might be surprised at how many new and superior answers you come up with beyond the first ones.

Creativity is all about the opening up of possibilities, playing with those possibilities and designing possible ideas.  Without possibility there is no creativity; it is an essential aspect of performing the exercises in the book.  You might find one answer, but what others are there?

With creativity, you should not be satisfied if something is ‘good’ – good is not good enough.  You can always develop the thinking skills involved even further.  If you practise the creative skills, confidence will grow as well as ability.  Confidence is important, as it will allow you to be more creative.
Confidence should not be confused with arrogance.  Confidence is openness and a willingness to go further, while arrogance is closure and defensiveness.  Truly creative people are never arrogant.

“How to have Creative Ideas: 62 Exercises to Develop the Mind”, is published by Vermillion, London.

About the author
Edward de Bono is the world's leading authority in the field of creative thinking and the teaching of thinking as a skill.

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