This study explores the benefits of implementing lateral thinking skills involving tertiary level learners to improve second language communication skills at a University in South India. The paper elaborates the concept of lateral thinking skills from two interrelated angles: (1) practical aspects covering the reasons for introducing and building lateral thinking skills in ESL learners, particularly University students of engineering in India, by proposing a checklist of lateral thinking strategies to be mastered, and (2) pedagogical aspects covering the methods for efficiently imparting lateral thinking strategies in the classroom setup.