The Procter & Gamble Company
The Art of Unexpected Solutions
Book

The Art of Unexpected Solutions

Using Lateral Thinking to Find Breakthroughs

Paul Sloane
Kogan Page, 2026

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Editorial Rating

8

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Breakthrough ideas struggle to emerge in organizations constrained by rigid processes, predictable thinking, and risk aversion. Paul Sloane, an expert in facilitating innovation and lateral thinking, argues that curiosity, experimentation, and adaptability drive innovation, while constraints can kill it. Sloane’s clear guide uses vivid anecdotes to explain how opportunity can hide in plain sight. He warns against passively waiting for “eureka” moments, urging companies to be proactive in spotting emerging trends, experimenting with ideas, and creating environments where serendipity can thrive.

Summary

Unexpected breakthroughs emerge when people welcome — rather than fear — unpredictability.

Don’t underestimate the role of luck in success. Many pivotal events — such as meeting a life partner, landing a job, or making a meaningful discovery — can arise from chance encounters and unexpected moments of serendipity. Happily, you can learn to harness lucky breaks: By framing obstacles as opportunities, fostering an attitude of openness and curiosity, creating conditions for exploration and experimentation, honing your observation skills, asking questions, and committing to hard work, you can create the ideal conditions for cultivating serendipity.

The human brain is wired to expect predictable patterns and outcomes. When a surprise comes out of left field, the jolt forces you to reassess what you thought you understood. History offers clear examples: The 2016 election of Donald Trump, the 1989 fall of the Berlin Wall, and the discoveries of penicillin and insulin were all unexpected, seismic upheavals that show how fragile widely held predictions can be. If you prioritize control and certainty, you will buckle in the face of disruption. For example, Kodak’s failure to...

About the Author

Paul Sloane, who writes about innovation, creative thinking, and leadership, is also the author of Lateral Thinking for Every Day and The Leader’s Guide to Lateral Thinking Skills.

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