Reverse Thinking: How to Unleash Creativity in Your Organization
When we feel stress or anxiety our reptilian brain is activated. It blocks creative thinking and makes us stick to what we know. But what we don’t know can be more relevant! Enter reverse thinking. In this 8th episode of The Relevance Podcast, Jim Morris (host) talks with Robert Schulte, international coach and trainer with Senaro, about reverse thinking.
Innovation is no longer a luxury. In a rapidly changing world, it's a necessity. Yet, many organizations struggle to break free from ingrained habits and routines. In the latest episode of The Learning Company Podcast, host Jim Morris talks with Robert Schwalter, international coach and founder of Scenaro Training Company, about how "reverse thinking" can help businesses and individuals rediscover their creative spark.
Guest: Robert Schwalter (International Coach, Founder of Scenaro Training Company)
What is reverse thinking?
Robert Schulte, international coach and trainer with Senaro explains: “It’s a technique, a tool, to get into a more joyful or playful mindset. State the question in reverse – for example: ‘How can we get more listeners for our podcast?’ – becomes: ‘How can we get people to dislike our podcast?’ This frees us to more creative opportunities.”
Why reverse thinking?
We often associate creativity with pure right-brain thinking: playful, free, and intuitive. But as Schwalter points out, true creativity also requires the logical left brain.
"Creative thinking is about the combination," he says. "But what puzzles me most is how little we use that combination. Studies show our creativity dramatically drops after the age of five. Perhaps because that's when we start school."
Western society, Schwalter argues, has conditioned people to favor rational, critical thinking over childlike wonder. Businesses often reinforce this by discouraging risk-taking or unconventional ideas. As Einstein once put it: "The intuitive mind is a sacred gift, and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift."
The power of a different perspective
So how can organizations reclaim that gift? Enter reverse thinking: a simple but powerful technique that challenges assumptions by flipping the problem on its head.
Take the question "How can we get more listeners to our podcast?" Reverse it: "How can we make people dislike our podcast?" As absurd as it sounds, this reversal frees the mind from habitual thinking and sparks fresh ideas.
Schwalter shares an analogy: "Ask what you can't do with a paperclip instead of what you can do. You might say, 'I can’t paddle a boat with it.' But then, what if you linked thousands of paperclips together? Could you build a boat?"
Why it matters for business
Stress, fear, and uncertainty activate the brain’s fight-or-flight mode, which stifles creativity. Reverse thinking, on the other hand, invites playfulness and exploration—qualities essential for innovation.
"Sometimes the best ideas come from newcomers or even children," says Schwalter. "They haven’t been conditioned by 'the way things are done.' If we give people permission to think differently, businesses can uncover solutions that were hiding in plain sight."
Robert’s four easy steps to reverse thinking
- Clearly state the problem or challenge
- Brainstorm what the problem or challenge is not
- Review ideas on the not-statement and see if there is a new perspective
- Select interesting ideas and flip the results to the original problem or challenge
This process works in groups and even when brainstorming solo. The key is to keep asking, "What else?" and avoid dismissing any idea too quickly.
Conclusion
Reverse thinking isn’t just a brainstorming technique; it’s a mindset shift. By unleashing our inner child and questioning assumptions, we open the door to innovation and resilience.
Listen to the full podcast to hear Schwalter’s stories, tips, and even a few brain-bending riddles that might just spark your next big idea.
About The Relevance Podcast
The Relevance Podcast explores what it means for organizations and employees to stay relevant in today’s rapidly changing world. With diverse speakers sharing their expertise, personal stories, and real-world case studies, every episode offers insights, tips, and practical advice—useful for both your professional and personal life. Now, and in the future.
