If we had to choose just a single nugget of business advice that has become commonplace over the years, We would choose “think outside the box.” We’ve heard this multiple times in professional circles that We can’t help but roll our eyes. The intention, on the other hand, is admirable. Despite the fact that the phrase has become obsolete due to excessive usage, the message holds true: don’t let your prejudices, habits, lack of information, or narrow-mindedness prevent you from evaluating all possible solutions to a problem.
Permit yourself to see past your regular, limited horizon by stepping outside of your own mental limits and considering all of the knowledge at your grasp.
So, the bigger question is, what is “thinking outside the box” and how do you master the art of thinking outside the box? This article answers all that. Keep reading to find out more!
What’s ‘The Box,’ Anyway?
We must first comprehend what the “box” is in order to imagine outside of it. The box is a set of habits that people have — habits that limit their inventiveness and originality. The “walls” of the box are made up of these behaviours, and there are usually four of them:
- Blaming: When problems occur, we have a proneness to shift the blame to others.
- Voicing Dissatisfaction with a Situation: The proclivity to think in terms of issues and to whine about them.
- Self-Justifying: When you’re stressed, you have a propensity to be on guard and over-sensitive.
- Closed-mindedness: A lack of curiosity in fresh or diverse points of view, as well as conceiving of yourself as an expert.
What Makes People Prefer To Live In A Box?
It may seem odd that Individuals would want to confine themselves, but that is exactly what the majority of people do, and so many leaders do as well. There’s a good reason for this: living within the confines of the box can be relaxing, pleasant, and secure. It’s usually easy to be cynical, point out the problems, and lay blame, for example. People who are on the defence believe they are safe from attack. You can avoid the work and discomfort of learning if you keep your mind closed.
The issue with living in the confinement of the box is that the safety it provides is only a mirage. Confining yourself off by condemning others can make you vulnerable in the long run. Defensiveness breeds a culture in which no one takes responsibility for their actions. Since you don’t actively participate in learning to stay fresh, closed-mindedness will lead your talents to deteriorate over time. Managers who live in the box are unable to promote innovation or creativity, and their businesses will suffer as a result. In truth, the box is a dangerous environment.
How to Master the Art of Thinking Outside the Box
1. Keep an Eye on New Technology
Even if you don’t think it affects you, keep an eye on technical advancements and how they affect other businesses. You might be able to sway them in your favour, for instance, the molecular sieve 13X. It may not appear as quite something you might need, but essentially, you’ll see how your organization benefits from investing in it, both performance-wise and cost-wise.
Take, for example, Starbucks. Do you consider it only a location to get a good cup of coffee? Obviously not. They’ve triumphantly combined product placement from various sectors, particularly music; they sell travel mugs, a selection of ground and whole bean coffees that may be taken home, and other auxiliary items.
2. Never Stop Searching for Fresh Concepts
We all have our thoughts on McDonald’s, but no one can question the company’s prowess in the field of innovation. It all originated when the founding McDonald brothers began creating hamburgers on an assembly line, and it progressed when Ray Kroc took over the company and began franchising like crazy.
Point is, whatever you do to get new ideas, be it 3D video gaming, walks, and mind games, do them. It not only helps you to learn to see things from new perspectives, it opens your mind from being a one-directional person.
3. Foster Diversity
You’ll have to fill specific job openings with whoever fits best, but the more individuals you have on your team, the more likely you are to withstand difficult times and promote innovation.
People differ a lot, in terms of genetics and approach to problems approach. While you might be tempted to favour people like you, creating a conducive-diverse work environment for your employees opens you to opportunities for different viewpoints and innovations.
While you do this, ensure that they are all happy with the working environment. That means that you also need to take care of their health and hygiene needs.
4. Experiment with Your Limits
Even if you never entirely leave your box—after all, you must specialize in something—continually push against its boundaries and expand its boundaries. Nike, the shoe company, has done this regularly over the years, developing hundreds of various models for every type of foot and activity. At the very least, you’ll learn what suits and what does not.
5. Prioritize Minimal Modifications
More strength to you if you’ve opted to entirely break free off the box. But don’t put all your eggs in one basket based on a single throw of the dice. Small tests are used by smart leaders to ensure that their market, particularly their core clients, agrees and will pursue them.
The Bottom Line
Learning your comforts will be uncomfortable and not easy at all. But if you want to ensure that you thrive as a leader and entrepreneur, you need to. Nest of luck!