Thinking method · Widely used; see Parrish, Clear Thinking
Inversion
Asking how to guarantee the bad outcome, then not doing those things. When you are stuck, or when the forward question keeps producing the same answers.
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Asking how to guarantee the bad outcome, then not doing those things.
The steps
- State the outcome you want.
- Ask: how would I guarantee the opposite? List everything.
- Be honest about which of those you are already doing.
- Stopping one of those is usually cheaper than adding something new.
When to use it
When you are stuck, or when the forward question keeps producing the same answers.
What it will not do
Avoiding failure is not the same as producing success. It is a floor, not a plan.
Where it comes from: Widely used; see Parrish, Clear Thinking. Described in our own words.
The module it belongs to
- Creative Thinking — Generate possibilities and new approaches