Lateral Thinking Exercise Checklist

Preparation

I have clearly defined the problem or challenge

I have identified conventional approaches that haven’t worked

I have set aside time for uninterrupted creative thinking

I have created a judgment-free environment for idea exploration

Provocation Operations

I have identified key assumptions about the problem

I have created deliberate provocations by reversing or distorting these assumptions

I have used “PO” statements to signal thinking outside normal boundaries

I have explored the implications of these provocations without immediate judgment

I have extracted practical insights from seemingly unreasonable statements

Random Stimulation

I have selected a truly random word, image, or concept

I have listed attributes, associations, and features of this random element

I have forced connections between these attributes and my problem

I have developed the most promising connections into practical ideas

I have repeated with different random stimuli if needed

Concept Extraction

I have identified successful solutions or systems from unrelated fields

I have extracted the core principles that make these solutions work

I have translated these principles to my specific context

I have adapted and developed the ideas to fit my specific needs

Assumption Challenging

I have listed all assumptions about my problem (both obvious and hidden)

For each assumption, I have asked: “Is this always true? What if it wasn’t?”

I have explored the implications if key assumptions were false

I have developed ideas based on alternative assumptions

Analogical Thinking

I have reframed my problem in abstract terms

I have identified other domains that address similar abstract challenges

I have studied how these domains solve their problems

I have adapted those solutions to my specific context

Idea Development

I have recorded all ideas without premature judgment

I have looked for ways to combine or build upon initial ideas

I have selected the most promising lateral concepts for further development

I have bridged from creative concepts to practical applications

Overcoming Barriers

I have separated idea generation from evaluation

I have pushed past initial discomfort with unusual ideas

I have temporarily suspended practical constraints to enable fresh thinking

I have created psychological safety for exploring “wild” ideas

Implementation Planning

I have identified which lateral ideas have practical potential

I have developed a plan to test or prototype these ideas

I have considered how to present unconventional ideas to stakeholders

I have prepared responses to anticipated objections

Reflection

I have noted which lateral thinking techniques were most productive

I have identified patterns in the types of creative connections that emerged

I have considered how to incorporate lateral thinking more regularly

I have documented my process for future reference

lateral_thinking_checklist