Reverse Thinking Method | An Idea Generation Method That Breaks Common Sense
“I can only come up with ordinary ideas…”
“I want to break fixed thinking and generate something innovative…”
In such situations, the “Reverse Thinking Method” is highly effective.
The Reverse Thinking Method generates new ideas by intentionally reversing what is considered “normal” or “common sense.”
By overturning assumptions, it becomes easier to discover innovative ideas that did not exist before.
What is the Reverse Thinking Method?
The Reverse Thinking Method is an idea generation technique in which you reverse the “common sense” or “assumptions” of a theme and think based on that reversed state.
For example:
- “A store is a place that sells products”
- “A school is a place that teaches”
- “A hotel is a place to stay overnight”
By reversing these assumptions, you can discover new business models and product ideas.
How to Use the Reverse Thinking Method
- Define a theme or problem
- List common assumptions about it
- Reverse those assumptions
- Think based on the reversed conditions
- Develop new ideas from there
Below is an example using a free template.
The key point is not to reject the reversed ideas, but to accept them as a temporary reality.
Features of the Reverse Thinking Method
- Breaks fixed assumptions
- Generates innovative ideas easily
- Helps create new business models
- Supports differentiation from competitors
- Improves creative thinking
- Enables non-standard planning
Example: Creating a New Food Service
Let’s take a restaurant as an example.
First, list common assumptions:
- Staff deliver food
- Customers place orders
- The restaurant assigns seats
- Meals are eaten inside the store
Then reverse them:
- Customers pick up their own food
- AI automatically recommends dishes
- Customers choose their own seats freely
- Eating outside the store becomes the norm
From this, we can generate ideas such as:
- Self-service restaurant
- AI-recommended menu restaurant
- Free-seating café
- Picnic-style food service
The table below summarizes the concept:
| Common Sense | Reversed Idea | New Business Idea |
|---|---|---|
| Staff deliver food | Customers pick up food themselves | Self-service restaurant |
| Customers place orders | AI automatically recommends dishes | AI menu restaurant |
| Restaurant assigns seats | Customers choose seats freely | Free-seating café |
| Meals are eaten inside the restaurant | Eating outside becomes the default | Picnic-style food service |
Benefits of Reverse Thinking
- Enables non-conventional thinking
- Helps differentiate from competitors
- Makes it easier to generate new business ideas
- Supports innovative product planning
- Solves idea shortages
- Enhances creativity
Recommended For
- People who want to create new business models
- Those seeking differentiation from competitors
- Product planners
- People who want to break fixed thinking
- Those who want to improve creativity
- Creators of innovative services
Key Tip for Reverse Thinking
The most important point is:
“Reverse it to the point where it feels unrealistic.”
Mild reversals often remain extensions of existing ideas. Bold reversals lead to truly new concepts.
Free Templates Available
To help you practice immediately, we provide a free PDF template for the Reverse Thinking Method.
Please use it for new business planning, product design, invention, and brainstorming sessions.
Reverse Thinking Template Download