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by Robin Sharma
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The Leader's Guide to Lateral Thinking Skills summary
Unlock the Creativity and Innovation in You and Your Team
18 mins
Brief summary
The Leader's Guide to Lateral Thinking Skills by Paul Sloane is a practical book that offers tips and exercises to help leaders develop their lateral thinking skills and solve problems creatively.
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The Leader's Guide to Lateral Thinking Skills
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The importance of innovation
In the 1970s, the Swiss watch industry was on the verge of extinction. Japanese companies were mass-producing watches that were both cheap and of good quality. How could the Swiss compete?
A businessman named Nicolas Hayek came up with a plan – a brand-new company, created by a merger of two of the largest watch manufacturers in Switzerland. This new company, Swatch, had a fresh approach to design, creating watches that were not only high-tech, but also fun, fashionable, and affordable. Five years later, Swatch had become the biggest watchmaker in the world.
The story of Swatch illustrates what can happen when organizations are truly innovative. According to expert Paul Sloane, this is the key to success.
In today’s global economy, the best way to get ahead of your competitors is to innovate, creating temporary monopolies. You need to harness the power of your greatest asset – your team – and come up with creative, innovative ideas.
Innovation means bringing something new into existence. Often, this can be achieved through lateral thinking – approaching challenges from different directions, in order to come up with radically new and exciting solutions.
For instance, until the early twentieth century, customers in shops were always served by an assistant. Then, in the 1920s, a man named Michael Cullen asked some questions: “What would happen if we did things differently? What if customers helped themselves?” And thus, the first modern supermarket was born.
Cullen’s questions are a good example of lateral thinking – thinking about things differently, and coming up with an entirely new idea.
Now, if you’re a leader, you’re probably wondering how you can inspire your team to come up with similar ideas. We’ll soon look at a few techniques to try. But first off, here’s something to keep in mind: Because you are a leader, it all starts with you.
According to Sloane, there are different kinds of leaders. Conventional leaders tend to be goal-oriented, focused on results and efficiency. Lateral leaders are also focused on goals, but they have a different approach to getting there. They’re more interested in creativity and innovation, inspiring their teams to find new and improved ways of doing things.
While there’s something to be said for the conventional approach, the most successful leaders today also have lateral leadership skills. They know how to get the best out of their teams.
So let’s find out how you can start doing things differently.
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What is The Leader's Guide to Lateral Thinking Skills about?
The Leader’s Guide to Lateral Thinking Skills (2017) offers expert insights into and practical guidance to a specific approach to leadership that can help to unleash your team’s creativity, resulting in a more innovative and successful organization.
The Leader's Guide to Lateral Thinking Skills Review
The Leader's Guide to Lateral Thinking Skills (2003) explores the importance of cultivating lateral thinking skills in leadership roles. Here's why this book is a valuable read:
- Offers practical exercises and strategies to enhance problem-solving abilities, fostering innovative thinking within leadership contexts.
- Provides real-world case studies of successful lateral thinking applications, demonstrating its effectiveness in varied scenarios.
- Keeps readers engaged with its dynamic approach to creativity, ensuring a stimulating and enlightening reading experience throughout.
Who should read The Leader's Guide to Lateral Thinking Skills?
- Leaders
- People interested in a more innovative approach to business
- All those who want to learn how to think more creatively
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The Leader's Guide to Lateral Thinking Skills FAQs
What is the main message of The Leader's Guide to Lateral Thinking Skills?
The main message of The Leader's Guide to Lateral Thinking Skills emphasizes the importance of fostering lateral thinking skills in leadership roles.
How long does it take to read The Leader's Guide to Lateral Thinking Skills?
Reading The Leader's Guide to Lateral Thinking Skills takes a few hours. The Blinkist summary can be read in just minutes.
Is The Leader's Guide to Lateral Thinking Skills a good book? Is it worth reading?
The Leader's Guide to Lateral Thinking Skills offers valuable insights for leaders. It's a worthwhile read for nurturing innovative thinking.
Who is the author of The Leader's Guide to Lateral Thinking Skills?
The author of The Leader's Guide to Lateral Thinking Skills is Paul Sloane.
What to read after The Leader's Guide to Lateral Thinking Skills?
If you're wondering what to read next after The Leader's Guide to Lateral Thinking Skills, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- The Art of Less by Mats Alvesson
- Why Plato Matters Now by Angie Hobbs
- The Practical Negotiation Handbook by Melissa Davies
- Blank Space by W. David Marx
- Stop Self-Sabotage by Dr. Judy Ho
- Bad Meetings Happen to Good People by Leigh Espy
- The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins
- The Next Renaissance by Zack Kass
- Lateral Thinking for Every Day by Paul Sloane
- Dynamic Drive by Molly Fletcher