Synopsis: 05

LATERAL THINKING & LEADERSHIP IN PHYSIOTHERAPY

Dr. Nitesh Bansal

Registrar

Rishihood University

Mumbai

Lateral thinking, at its core, is the ability of viewing challenges in a new light and creative problem solving. It is one of the most critical qualities for a modern leader. Getting out of a rigid structure and being able to see challenges with a completely different perspective and resolving problems by perceiving things that others cannot, is the biggest quality of a successful leader. Lateral thinking is synonyms with innovation, inventiveness, vision, imagination, originality as well as resourcefulness, among others. The role of lateral thinking in leadership today is crucial to competitiveness and survival.

We all know that Innovative leadership is an essential factor to the success of every organization or even in individual’s life. Being a leader and also teaching others to be leaders, is critical if teams and organizations are to prosper. Without effective leadership, individuals, teams and organizations stumbles. Without innovative and lateral thinking, we all simply tend to make the same old mistakes again and again despite giving our best. To be a good leader you must think about your own professional goals and the skill sets you want to develop and grow. As per Boyatzis (1982), in addition to technical competences must have Conceptual and Interpersonal skills also to be an effective leader.

So let us all rethink and reframe the way you think about being a leader and doing leadership. We all can be a far better leader and/or a manager if we use a little lateral thinking.