What Does it Mean to Think Sideways?

Thinking sideways requires ignoring the obvious.

To think sideways is also known as lateral thinking or thinking outside the box. Thinking sideways is the opposite of linear thinking and involves looking at challenges and ideas in unconventional ways.

Alternative Problem Solving

Thinking sideways may mean defining the components of a problem in novel ways in order to come up with a solution that is not immediately obvious, according to The College Writer. The term "thinking outside the box" originated from a geometry puzzle that required a person to literally go outside the box to find the puzzle's solution.

Synthesis

According to The College Writer, sideways thinking may involve problem solving or communicating via synthesis and the combining of two apparently different ideas, rather than by analysis, which is the separation of an idea into its component parts.

Obfuscation

In an attempt to draw the reader's attention to new ways of looking at a subject, a writer may sacrifice clarity for the sake of cleverness and use a form of communication that is so unconventional that his message is unclear to his audience. The audience is forced to stop and "think sideways" to interpret the writer's meaning, as discussed by Object Mentor.

References

• Speaking About Presenting: Three Traps When Using Images in Your Presentation
• Google Books: The College Writer
• The Phrase Finder: Think Outside The Box
• Object Mentor: Now 'and' For Something Completely Different

Resources

• Wilkinson Family: Classic Lateral Thinking Puzzles