Consider INVERSION THINKING
For alignment, let's borrow Mr Google's definition of INVERSION THINKING which is defined as that practice of THINKING through problems in 'reverse', that practice of 'INVERTING' a problem, turning it upside down to see it from a different and opposite perspective. A classic example is how an endeavor could fail, and then being careful to avoid those pitfalls. The troubling question is once we do decide to Consider INVERSION THINKING, could it improve our decision-making📗📙📘
Without selling INVERSION THINKING to us all, allow me to share its highlights:- INVERSION THINKING would ask us to mentally simulate a scenario in WHICH our answer is incorrect
- Working backward like reverse engineering is a common method in problem-solving
- Once you end up with a 'bad' hypothetical answer, it may help generate better ideas
In layman's terms, INVERSION THINKING is very much akin to playing "DEVIL's ADVOCATE" in terms of 'WELL, WHAT IF....." OR "ON THE OTHER HAND....", This INVERSION THINKING is even compared by experts to a toddler WHO keeps asking WHY WHY WHY until he runs of reason to ask WHY. So, INVERSION THINKING asks us to mentally "REVERSE ENGINEER" the thinking process and identify WHY and HOW it did go wrong📌📌📌
To simplify the analogy of INVERSION THINKING, experts want us to think of those times we were a child in school . Did YOU raise your hand all the time? Probably NOT all the time. Perhaps only WHEN you knew [OR you thought] that you were right. MAYBE you DIDN'T raise your hand at all, BUT NOT because you were NOT engaged BUT rather, maybe because you DIDN'T want to risk being wrong in a public setting❎❎❎ Our takeaways? WHY don't we introduce this INVERSION THINKING into our thought process. Obviously, it will take time BUT hey dude, UNTIL and UNLESS you do it and practice it, you will NEVER get to develop this and have this habit embedded within your thought process. Bottom line here is that for many centuries, most of us humans have been thinking along conventional thought process. ISN'T it time for us to consider INVERSION THINKING❓❓❓
