Sideways to the Solution: The Power of Lateral Thinking

Some of the greatest breakthroughs in human history didn’t arrive by marching forward—they came from a sideways step. While linear thinking moves one step at a time, lateral thinking changes the angle of approach entirely. It asks not just 'What comes next?' but 'What if we’re asking the wrong question altogether?'

In 1943, engineers were trying to improve airplane armor based on where returning planes had the most bullet holes. One mathematician, Abraham Wald, suggested the opposite: reinforce the places that had no bullet holes. Why? Because those planes had been shot there—and didn’t make it back. That sideways insight saved lives. It didn’t follow the obvious line; it curved around it.

Lateral thinkers look for connections others overlook. They don’t reject logic—they just see where logic may be limiting. A child might ask why pencils are shaped the way they are. An inventor might ask why windows can’t be solar panels. These aren’t random thoughts—they’re sideways entries into deeper questions.

This kind of thinking matters more than ever. In a world facing climate change, misinformation, and automation, the obvious solutions often aren’t enough. We need ideas that surprise us. Solutions that arrive from the side, not the front. Creativity, when aimed with purpose, is not chaos—it’s progress.

Of course, lateral thinking isn’t always neat. It may feel scattered, strange, or even wrong at first. But often, it’s the uncomfortable ideas that shift a system. When the problem is tangled, the solution may lie not in pulling harder—but in turning the puzzle upside down.

So when you face a tough challenge, don’t just ask, 'What’s the next step?' Ask, 'What’s a step no one’s considered yet?' The best ideas aren’t always ahead of you. Sometimes, they’re waiting just to the left.