Quiz Entry - updated: 2026.07.14
What is the Kopfstandtechnik (Headstand/Reverse Technique)?
Invert the problem — instead of asking "How do we solve X?", ask "How do we make X as bad as possible?"
* The headstand technique: invert, brainstorm failures, then reverse them. *
How it works:
- Take your original question (e.g., "How do we secure our web application?")
- Flip it: "How do we make our web application as insecure as possible?"
- Brainstorm answers to the inverted question (this is usually much easier and more fun)
- Reverse each answer back to derive solutions
Example:
| Inverted (How to make it insecure) | Reversed (Security measure) |
|---|---|
| Use "password123" for all accounts | Enforce strong password policies |
| Never update any software | Implement automated patching |
| Give everyone admin access | Apply principle of least privilege |
| Ignore all log files | Set up centralized logging and alerting |
| Store passwords in plaintext | Use salted hashing (bcrypt/argon2) |
Why it works:
- It's psychologically easier to think of ways to break something than to protect it
- The brain finds it easier to think negatively — searching for worst-case scenarios generates more input
- Removes mental blocks and self-censorship
- Often reveals blind spots that direct problem-solving misses
Tip: This is essentially what red teaming and threat modeling do in cybersecurity — think like the attacker to find defensive weaknesses.
Go deeper:
Lateral thinking (Wikipedia) — de Bono's reversal/provocation methods this inversion technique belongs to.