Have you ever looked at a chair and had two completely different reactions to it? It sounds strange, but let’s test it. Imagine a chair with four legs but missing one, leaving it with just three legs.
Now, how would you describe that chair?
Would you say it’s a “chair with three legs”? Or is it “a chair with a leg missing”?
There’s no “wrong” answer here – it’s just a matter of perspective. But interestingly, each perspective reveals something different about how we approach challenges, creativity, and even our everyday thinking. Here’s why this little thought experiment matters more than it might seem.
The Chair with Three Legs vs. The Chair with a Missing Leg.
Imagine this: I’m standing in front of an audience, showing them a picture of that three-legged chair and asking, “How many of you see a chair with three legs?” Most people raise their hands. Then I ask, “How many of you see a chair with a leg missing?” Again, hands go up, and the answers are split. Some even raise their hands to both questions!
So, which description is more useful? “A chair with three legs” might lead someone to try sitting on it, expecting it to be stable. Particularly if a visual indication of it is not provided – I could be referring to one of these, a regular three-legged chair. But seeing it as “a chair with a missing leg” implies caution – it suggests we shouldn’t sit because it may be unsafe. We’re looking at the same object, but the meaning changes depending on how we frame it.
This exercise highlights a fundamental aspect of creative thinking. Some people see only what is right in front of them, while others notice what *isn’t* there – the gaps, the dangers, or even the opportunities. And it’s often those who see what’s missing who can make the biggest impact.
Seeing ‘only what’s there’ is called Literal Thinking. That’s seeing things in a literal sense. Some people are wired this way.
Seeing the whole picture is often referred to as Lateral Thinking – a term coined by Professor Edward de Bono – otherwise also known as ‘thinking outside the box’ or ‘Creative Thinking’.
Can Creative Thinking be learned?
Learning from a Fable: The Seven Dwarfs and the Stream..
This idea takes me back to a story from my childhood. Here’s how it went: a group of seven dwarfs – just like in the fairy tales – are journeying through a forest. They come to a fast-flowing stream and carefully wade through to the other side. Once they’re across, one of them suddenly worries, “Did we all make it? Did we lose anyone?”
So, each dwarf starts counting the group. One, two, three, four, five, six?! They’re horrified to realize that one of them is “missing.” Now, each dwarf counts again, but every time, they still only count six dwarfs. They’re convinced that one has been swept away, and they’re all very distraught. Worse still, they don’t know which one it is!
In steps the “wise person” of the story – my role in a little school radio play. Calmly, I say, “Let me count.” And sure enough, I count to seven, showing that they’re all safe and sound. What happened? They’d each forgotten to count themselves! It’s a funny story, but it has a valuable lesson: sometimes, we can be so focused on ‘only what we *see*’ that we miss what’s right there – we don’t see what’s missing, or indeed that what we thought is missing is actually not missing.
As you’ll see throughout my case studies, the biggest and most rewarding transformations I engineered in my Excel Consulting career are those that enabled capabilities that are already present, but the experts advising the decision makers were not readily seeing. See the simple case of the REG Call Handler as an example.
The Power of Noticing What’s Missing.
The chair with three legs and the “missing dwarf” story both point to the same idea: creativity and insight often come from seeing beyond what’s obvious. Those who tend to focus only on what they *can* see may miss what isn’t there, and that’s where opportunities – and sometimes, problems – lie. Oh, and, take a look at the Friends’ Expenses Excel Challenge also. Can you see the answer in 5 seconds?
In our professional lives, this difference in perspective can be critical. The ability to notice gaps, inconsistencies, or potential issues is invaluable, especially in real-life business scenarios. In my work with Excel, for instance, the difference between “seeing what is” and “seeing what isn’t” has opened up countless opportunities. When you spot the missing pieces, you’re often able to devise solutions that others overlook. Again, the REG Call Handler is a smashing example.
But this ability doesn’t come from magic; it comes from how our brains process information. Imagine your mind as a collection of dots – each dot representing a piece of knowledge or an experience. Some dots are larger than others, standing out because they’re repeated frequently, like popular social media trends we encounter daily. Others lie quietly in the background. Creativity happens when our brains connect these dots in new and appropriate ways – especially when we notice dots that don’t exist, or gaps in our understanding, and seek to obtain these crucial dots.
Three Factors that Shape Our Creative Thinking.
There are three main things that influence how we connect these dots, or even if we’re able to connect them at all:
1. Our Knowledge Boundaries: Our minds can only make connections within the information they contain. If something lies outside our knowledge, it’s nearly impossible to “see” it creatively. That’s why lifelong learning is so essential – the more information you have, the more connections you can make.
2. The Size and Prominence of Certain Dots: Some dots stand out more because they’ve been drilled into us through experience or repetition, or social media hype. Sometimes, these prominent dots can skew our perception, making us focus on what we already know rather than what’s new or unexpected. Advertising, for example, tries to make certain ideas “larger” in our minds, overshadowing other possibilities.
3. Our Willingness to Connect the Dots Differently: Creativity often requires breaking free from established connections. Some people are naturally inclined to follow new paths, while others prefer familiar patterns. To be more creative, you have to be willing to challenge your usual ways of thinking and embrace unconventional perspectives.
These factors determine our ability to see the “missing leg” on the chair, to recognize the “missing” dwarf, and ultimately, to unlock new possibilities in any field.
Why This Matters in Business and Beyond.
The things that have made me successful in my career aren’t because I only see what’s there. It’s because I see the gaps, the things that *should* be there but aren’t. Especially in fields like Excel, where many people rely on the literal, popularity, or techniques heavily promoted on social media, there’s a huge opportunity for adding value if you’re willing to think differently.
So, the next time you’re faced with a challenge, ask yourself: are you only seeing what’s in front of you, or are you noticing what’s missing? Are you sitting down on that three-legged chair as if it has four legs, or are you thinking twice about the missing leg?
Bringing It All Together.
Ultimately, creativity is about seeing things that aren’t there. It’s about looking at a chair with three legs and understanding that it’s incomplete, and it’s about counting your dwarfs carefully to ensure you’re not leaving anyone out. And in the world of data, business, and innovation, these are the skills that make all the difference.
So, next time you’re faced with a challenge, try this simple shift in thinking. Look for what isn’t there. Challenge the boundaries of what you know, notice the things you might be overlooking, and connect those dots in new ways. After all, some of the greatest ideas come from the gaps – from what’s *not* there – and that’s where true creativity lies.
This is a podcast by Hiran de Silva. Narrated by Bill.
Add comment