Edward de Bono
An interactive exploration of lateral thinking. Don't just read about creativity — practice it.
8 exercises that will change how you see problems
01 — The Pattern Trap
Why your best thinking is also your worst enemy
Your mind carves channels like water on a landscape. Information flows into existing grooves — efficient, but rigid. Try this:
Quick — complete this sequence:
2, 4, 8, 16, ___
02 — Two Kinds of Thinking
Vertical vs. lateral thinking — feel the difference
Sort these traits. Which belong to Vertical thinking and which to Lateral?
Vertical
Lateral
03 — Challenge Assumptions
The boundaries nobody told you about
The classic nine dots: connect all 9 dots using 4 straight lines without lifting your pen.
Most people fail. Why?
The assumption: you must stay within the square formed by the dots. Nobody said that. You assumed it.
The lines extend beyond the dots — breaking the invisible boundary.
Now challenge your own assumptions. Click any assumption below to break it:
04 — The Reversal Method
Kick hard against what's fixed to move in the opposite direction
Take a situation. Reverse it. See what ideas emerge — not because the reversal is correct, but because it's provocative.
What ideas does the reversal provoke? Write one below:
05 — Random Entry Point & PO
PO is to lateral thinking what NO is to logical thinking
PO means: "I'm saying this not because it's true, but to see where it leads." Use a random word to crack open a problem.
Your problem:
06 — Dominant Idea Identification
Unless you can name the cage, you can't escape it
Read this scenario. What's the dominant idea everyone is trapped by?
07 — Brainstorming Rules
Why your inner critic is murdering your best ideas
De Bono's brainstorming rules in action. Rate each response — is it legitimate brainstorming or illegal evaluation?
08 — Blocked by Openness
The most dangerous block has no roadblock at all
You're not stuck because the road is blocked. You're stuck because the road looks fine — you just didn't notice the side turning.
The Elevator Puzzle: A man lives on the 15th floor. Every morning he takes the elevator down to the ground floor. Every evening he takes the elevator to the 10th floor and walks the rest. On rainy days, he takes the elevator all the way up. Why?
He's a dwarf. He can't reach higher than the 10th button. On rainy days, he uses his umbrella to press the 15th button.
The assumption: the man is of normal height. His behavior seems bizarre — but only because you assumed something about him, not because the behavior itself is strange.
The road seemed open — the question was clear, the scenario ordinary. That's exactly why you were blocked.
You've practiced 8 techniques. Here's your cheat sheet:
🔄 Generate Alternatives — Set a quota. Don't stop at the first good idea.
🔓 Challenge Assumptions — The boundaries are self-imposed.
⏸️ Suspend Judgement — Wrong ideas lead to right ones.
↩️ Reverse It — Turn the situation upside down.
🎲 Random Entry — Use PO to collide unrelated things.
👁️ Find the Dominant Idea — Name the cage to escape it.
🔪 Fractionate — Break patterns into pieces, recombine.
🚪 Beware Openness — Adequate ≠ optimal.