Thinking Tools #3 – Using inversions to identify gaps in our thinking

The first time I recall using the upside-down strategy I’ll focus on today was in my McKinsey interview.

I remember a senior engagement manager called Saimond putting me through my paces around a case and then posing a leading observation.

“So, you have given me some great demand-side ideas there …”

As someone with a kindergarten teaching and communication background, I had not used economic concepts much.

But thankfully I had helped review my university boyfriend's economics essays and twigged that he wanted more and different ideas from me.

So, I responded that he was right, and that perhaps he would like some supply-side ideas too?

I then invented some on the spot.

Using opposites, or what some call ‘inversions,’ has often been a useful thinking strategy since.

Here are some natural places to use this strategy to identify gaps and overlaps in your own thinking.

Firstly, when choosing a set of options to evaluate. Here are two strategies to help you use inversions:

Start by assuming that what you are trying to prove is either true or false, then show what else would have to be true for that to be so.

Then, instead of aiming directly for your goal, think deeply about what you want to avoid and then see what options are left over

Secondly, when ensuring our ideas are MECE (mutually exclusive, collectively exhaustive). This works both when we are communicating and also when solving problems.

Here is a list of examples of where I have used inversions recently that you could also apply in your own communication.

I have ordered them according to the three lenses we use for checking whether our ideas are ordered well:

Structure

• Internal versus external (e.g. as in forces acting on something)
• Supply versus demand (e.g. economics)
• Hard versus soft perspectives (e.g. McKinsey 7S framework)

Time

• Current versus past or future (e.g. activities, plans)
• Experienced versus inexperienced (e.g. team members)
• Old versus young / new (e.g. equipment, technology)

Degree

• Hot versus cold (e.g. could be literal or metaphorical)
• Increasing versus decreasing (e.g. prices)
• Large versus small (e.g. anything measurable!)

Remember: when preparing your communication, step one is to categorise your ideas. Step two is to work out what you are saying about those categories.

I hope that helps.

More soon,
Davina

Whenever you're ready, here are five other ways I can help you: