Lateral Thinking Tool: Focus

Edward de Bono's Lateral Thinking tool, Focus, helps sharpen or change your perspective to improve your creative efforts. “Focus” is not commonly thought of as a tool, but it is. For example, you can learn to focus on areas that no one else has bothered to think about. Doing so may lead you to a breakthrough idea simply because you are the first person to pay any attention to this area.

Just moving through a typical day, you can deliberately notice what is going on at any given moment and choose to focus on your surroundings or activities to look for new ideas.

Focus Example: You are in a dentist’s office waiting for an appointment. The office contains some magazines, a television, a couple of child’s toys, and an aquarium for people to look at while they wait. You decide to think of ideas for ways to make the wait more enjoyable or productive.

• Put out books of crossword puzzles, brain teasers, and sudoku. 
• Make available several laptops with free wireless access.
• Convert one wall of the waiting room into a white board with a sign inviting people to doodle or draw on it.

The ability to define a creative focus at will provides a big advantage in becoming a more innovative thinker. Knowing how to include general areas for a focus as well as problem areas further expands your chances of coming up with innovative ideas.

Learn more about Edward de Bono's Lateral Thinking Thinking Tools.