Reverse thinking is a method of thinking where you
state your
problem in
reverse.
Why is reverse thinking important?
When confronted with complex issues, conventional methods might
not always cut it. That's where reverse thinking shines. By
altering your perspective and asking counter-intuitive questions,
you can break through mental barriers and discover innovative
paths to success. Let's explore some real-world examples of
reverse thinking in action.
Example of how to get a good job with reverse thinking:
Discovering the ideal course of study to secure a rewarding job
opportunity can be daunting. However, there is a creative solution
to this challenge: reverse thinking. The concept revolves around
envisioning your desired occupation and then seeking out the
educational path that leads you to it.
Conversation between A and B about how to get a good job with
reverse thinking. A: "I don’t know what to study to get a good
job." B: "Use reverse thinking." A: "What?" B: "Think about a
good job, then look for the education that leads you to it." A:
"Thanks." By Flinkliv.com
Example to motivate teams and employees with reverse thinking:
Instead of focusing on how to motivate a team, flip the script.
Think about the things that drain or frustrate their motivation,
like micromanaging, unnecessary meetings, or lack of recognition.
Once you identify those, stop doing them. By removing the negative
behaviors that hold them back, you'll naturally create a more
motivating environment without having to force it. This reverse
thinking approach shifts your focus from adding more motivation to
eliminating what's killing it in the first place.
Conversation between A and B about how to motivate teams and
employees with reverse thinking. A: "How do we motivate
employees?" B: "Just stop doing the stuff that frustrates them."
A: "I'll create a team-building." B: "Forced fun... that'll
definitely boost motivation." By Flinkliv.com
Example win a trust at work environemnt with reverse thinking:
Trust is not static but evolves based on how you act and react in
different situations. Your actions and behavior in various
contexts can either build or erode trust.
Conversation between A and B about how to earn trust at work
with reverse thinking. A: "No one trusts me at work." B: "Let's
flip the script and use reverse thinking." B: "How can you win
them back?" A: "Oh ... Plot twist... I am the villain now." By
Flinkliv.com
Conversation between A and B about how to earn trust at work
with reverse thinking. B: "Trust is people's belief in your
actions. If you are competent, they will trust your skills. If
you are honest and credible, you will be trusted as a person of
integrity." By Flinkliv.com
Conversation between A and B about how to earn trust at work
with reverse thinking. A: "Never really saw trust from this
angle before. I like how you explain it, why no one told me that
before. You see, that is why I have trust issues." By
Flinkliv.com
Example of how to succeed at work using reverse thinking:
Numerous individuals struggle with figuring out how to thrive in
the workplace. In such cases, reverse thinking can be an
invaluable tool. Take a moment to compile a list of factors that
hinder your work, such as arriving late, delivering mediocre
performance, experiencing conflicts with colleagues, failing to
assist others, harboring a negative attitude, or refraining from
offering solutions. Then, seize the opportunity to flip this list
and do the opposite. By embracing this approach, you will
significantly enhance your prospects for success at work.
Conversation between A and B about how to succeed at work using
reverse thinking. A: "I don’t know how to succeed at work." B:
"How about reverse thinking?" A: "What do you mean?" B: "Well,
think about a list of things that ruin your work, then do the
opposite." A: "Oh! Late to work... mediocre work... not getting
along with colleagues... not helping colleagues... negative
attitude... not offering a solution... etc." B: "Well, do the
opposite of this list, and your chances to succeed at work will
increase." By Flinkliv.com
Example of reverse thinking in the type of rest:
By applying reverse thinking, we recognize that rest isn't a
singular concept but comes in various forms—physical, mental,
emotional, and social. This shift in perspective prompts us to
thoughtfully identify the specific type of rest we need at any
given moment.
Conversation between A and B about reverse thinking in type of
rest A: I need some rest B: What kind? A: Wonderful, rest comes
in flavors now. By Flinkliv.com
Example of reverse thinking in the annual performance review:
Preparing for a yearly performance review requires a strategic
approach, not last-minute scrambling. Adopting reverse thinking,
you should avoid gathering achievements just before the meeting
and plan well in advance instead. Approximately 10 months before
the review, create a comprehensive list of tasks to boost your
chances of earning a promotion, and diligently work on
accomplishing them. By the time the review arrives, you will have
ten months of well-thought-out preparation under your belt, and
your progress may even catch your boss's attention. Embracing this
proactive mindset can lead to a more successful and impactful
performance evaluation.
Conversation between A and B about reverse thinking in the
annual performance review. A: "Tomorrow I have my yearly
performance review." B: "And?" A: "I am gathering what I
achieved to get my promotion." B: "Good luck, but for the next
time, try reverse thinking." A: "What do you mean?" B: "Instead
of gathering achievements just before the meeting, prepare the
meeting months before." A: "How?" B: "Let's say 10 months before
the meeting, make a list of tasks that increase your chances to
get a promotion, then work on it. When the time comes, you have
10 months of preparation. Your boss might even notice the
progress as well." By Flinkliv.com
Example of reverse thinking in turn crisis into opportunity:
Challenges in life don't shape our character; rather, they unveil
it. Employ reverse thinking to welcome every opportunity that
reveals who you truly are and strive to improve. Embrace these
experiences as a chance to become the best version of yourself,
unleashing your potential for growth and self-discovery.
Conversation between A and B about reverse thinking to turn
crisis into opportunity. A: "Sorry I lost my cool during the
meeting. It's because of those issues." B: "Issues don't create
the character; they reveal it." A: "So, what am I supposed to
do?" B: "Embrace this opportunity to get better." A: "Ok." B:
"Get out of your comfort zone." A: "Right." B: "Become the best
version of yourself." A: "Don't push it." By Flinkliv.com
Examples of reverse thinking in brainstorming
Reverse Brainstorming is a process that harvests our tendency to
see
problems more
than solutions. Ask yourself what could go wrong, then reverse it
to get the solution.
Conversation between A and B about reverse brainstorming. A: "I
am out of ideas." B: "Use reverse brainstorming." B: "Think what
could go wrong then reverse it." B: "You never run out of things
that can go wrong." By Flinkliv.com
Manipulative people
Acknowledging the pervasive presence of manipulative tendencies in
society is crucial. However, rather than focusing on others'
flaws, individuals should take a moment to introspect on their
actions and behaviors to enhance themselves.
Conversation between A and B about manipulative people. A: "Too
many manipulative people." B: "Brace yourself. Turns out, we're
all part-time puppet masters." B: "How about we hit pause and
work on ourselves." By Flinkliv.com
Sick leave
High rates of sick leave can often signal deeper issues within a
workplace. When employees feel their environment is draining or
toxic, taking sick days may become less about physical illness and
more about mental and emotional self-preservation. To address
this, leaders should:
Foster a positive work culture
Encourage open communication
Promote work-life balance
Conversation between A and B about sick leave. A: Sickness at an
all-time high? B: When your boss sucks the life out of you B:
Calling in sick is just self-preservation at this point By
Flinkliv.com
Turning rejection into growth
Instead of taking rejection personally or dwelling on frustration,
view it as an opportunity to learn and improve. Here is what you
can ask or think about:
What can I do better?
What can I learn from this?
This mindset shifts your focus from what went wrong to what you can
do right moving forward. Embrace feedback, seek areas of
improvement, and use rejection as a stepping stone to refine your
approach.
Conversation between A and B about turning rejection into
growth. A: They rejected my project, Totally unfair, right? B:
Ask why to open a dialogue, and learn from that A: Nah, they’re
just haters By Flinkliv.com
Instant relief vs. long-term solutions
When pain hits, the immediate instinct is to reach for the
quickest fix. But instead of listening to the body’s signals, we
often ignore them, preferring the immediate relief of a fast
solution. Reverse thinking would suggest we should listen to what
the pain is saying and work to fix the root issue instead of
following the standard take-a-pill path.
Conversation between A and B about Instant relief vs. long-term
solutions. A: Hand me the pill to ease my pain. B: How about
fixing the root cause? B: Pain’s your body talking A: It’s
yelling, 'Take the pill, idiot. By Flinkliv.com
