Literal or Lateral Leadership?

I have many friends who are very literal in their approach to defining problems and identifying solutions. Can literal thinkers be effective problem solvers? Perhaps, but some thorny problems may require a less literal perspective. . .

Edward de Bono says lateral thinking is the generation of new solutions for unresolved problems.

De Bono identifies four stages of lateral thinking:

(1) recognize dominant ideas that polarize perception of a problem,

(2) search for different ways of looking at things,

(3) relax rigid control of thinking, and

(4) use chance to encourage other ideas. This last stage has to do with the fact that lateral thinking involves low-probability ideas which are unlikely to occur in the normal course of events. So what do you think, are we ready for a leader who thinks laterally?

Thanks Greg Kearsley for your excellent summary of de Bono's important work.