I get it. We’re all a bit freaked out by how good AI is getting at doing our jobs. I recently heard that a client generated an entire business plan in under a minute. My first thought? ‘Well, there goes my career.’
But here’s the thing, after delivering de Bono’s Lateral Thinking workshops for years, I’ve noticed something interesting. The organisations maximising the techniques aren’t the ones with the fanciest AI subscriptions, they’re the ones whose employees think in ways no algorithm can predict.
The AI sameness problem
Let’s be honest – when everyone’s using the same AI tools, we all end up with suspiciously similar outputs. I recently spoke with a client who said their junior team members had delivered some project proposals, when the manager reviewed them, they swore they were written by the same person (or more likely, the same AI).
This creates a weird situation where basic creativity is easier than ever. Standing out is even harder.
Where humans still have the edge
This is precisely where de Bono’s Lateral Thinking techniques shine. Our workshops teach you how to implement a proven thinking framework that AI just can’t match:
- You’ll think differently, feeling unfamiliar at first, but it will lead to new solutions.
- You’ll confidently question what others accept as truth.
- You’ll link ideas from unexpected places, creating solutions no one else saw coming.
Real-world applications
Previously, our client base was primarily creative agencies and innovation departments. Now, we’re seeing increased interest from complex problem solvers like pharma and FinTech, system innovators like engineering and supply chain and competitive differentiators like professional services – including several clients requesting Lateral Thinking workshops alongside Agile project management training.
Why? Organisations are increasingly seeking creative thinking training for several key reasons, all tied to the need to stay competitive, adaptive, and innovative in today’s rapidly changing environment. Being agile isn’t just about process; it’s about mindset. And lateral thinking is the ultimate agile mindset.
The competitive edge – agile thinking
When everyone has access to the same AI tools, having ideas that others don’t have, gives you that edge in the market. While AI can help refine and optimise existing concepts, the truly breakthrough ideas still come from humans thinking in unconventional ways.
This doesn’t mean we should reject AI tools, quite the opposite, the most successful teams I work with leverage AI for what it does best, freeing up human cognitive resources for what we do best: thinking laterally.
Do you need this?
You probably need a Lateral Thinking workshop if:
- Your ‘brainstorming’ sessions feel more like ‘same-storming’.
- Your innovation process is efficient but predictable.
- You’ve caught yourself saying ‘AI can handle that’, a bit too often.
- Everyone in your industry seems to be working from the same playbook.
More about de Bono’s Lateral Thinking:
- More about the workshop
- Public workshop dates
- Enquire about inhouse
- Download: The Power of De Bono’s Lateral Thinking (PDF)
Our project management workshops:
