Thinking Outside The Box
Posted by JasonThe most overused and abused phrase in workplace terminology is “thinking outside the box.” Over 13 million results show up in a Google search. If you really think about it…what does “thinking outside the box” mean? When you dissect the phrase, some interesting ideas emerge.
For example:
- What’s inside the box? I once read on a Starbucks cup a quote from Dave Grusin that said, “In my career, I’ve found that ‘thinking outside the box’ works better if I know what’s inside the box.” It’s so true. I assume inside the box refers to those expected corporate activities, the sacred cows and the traditions of the organization. Some could say what’s inside the box is basically corporate culture. As managers and leaders, it’s our role to support and educate employees about corporate culture. I wonder if there comes a time when it’s also our role to help shape a new culture (i.e. build a new box). This is really interesting because there’s a school of thought that human resources is the keeper of corporate culture. Maybe the real drivers of corporate culture are the employees…
- How big is *this* box? If you’re a new company, does this mean that the box is smaller because you have less history? Logically, a smaller company could be less risk-adverse and more apt to “think outside the box.” Then, as the organization grows the “box” becomes bigger. This leads into a discussion about company agility. Meaning the bigger the company, the larger the box and harder it is to change ways of thinking.
- And what does “outside the box” look like? If inside the box is considered the norm, then logic says outside the box is probably pretty darned radical. As a general rule, I haven’t found that the average person thrives on radical change. That’s why we have so much change management training. We have to constantly support individual efforts to embrace change. Because if people don’t like change then chances are they aren’t thinking about making change.
- Lastly, even if we think and act “outside the box” aren’t we, by definition, just creating another box? Sure, it may be a much nicer box, but a box just the same. Then, how do we know when we need to start thinking outside of *that* box?
The bottom line is there’s no such thing as thinking outside the box. At best, we think to the edges of the box. Some people might peek over the side of the box, say it looks scary out there and stay safely inside. Why? Because they’re afraid to be considered a failure. In the corporate world, failure is not perceived as normal behavior.
Companies that really want to succeed in this world should educate and support unconventional thinking, be willing to try new stuff and support “failure.” To really change the world, we have to quit using clichés like “we need to think outside the box” and start saying “we need to be comfortable with perceived failure.”
Let’s embrace the words of Thomas Alva Edison: “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”
This post was written by Sharlyn Lauby for the Talent Buzz blog post contest. Sharlyn Lauby, SPHR, CPLP is the voice of HR Bartender, a friendly place to discuss workplace issues. When she’s not bartending, Sharlyn is president of Internal Talent Management (ITM) which specializes in employee training and human resources consulting. Her off-hours are spent searching for the best hamburger on the planet, fabulous wine that cost less than $10 bottle and exotic martinis.
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March 6th, 2009 at 10:40 am
Great, people need to use more imagination and energy to get problems solved.
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March 8th, 2009 at 1:46 am
I REALLY DON’T KNOW WHAT ALL THIS IS ABOUT………BUT WHATEVER IT IS…….YOU GOT MY VOTE !!!!!!!!!!!!! LOV YA, CONNIE
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March 9th, 2009 at 1:20 pm
I hope this submittal won the blog contest as I think it make a whole lot of sense!
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Sharlyn Lauby reply on March 14th, 2009 7:13 pm:
Thanks to everyone for the kind words! I really enjoyed writing this post.
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March 11th, 2009 at 12:20 am
I have to laugh as I had used this phrase in one of my blog posts in relation to bodywork (and looking back at it, ‘cuz I forgot what it was about, it one of my more popular ones.. LOL)
But yeah, good question.. what IS in that box? I especially love this line: we have to quit using clichés like “we need to think outside the box” and start saying “we need to be comfortable with perceived failure.” Call it what it REALLY is. and recognize that we always be in some kind of box, even if we aren’t yet aware of the parameters. But at least we get a brief period of space and wiggle room.
So, in essence, with this observation, you are thinking outside the ‘thinking outside the box’ box. Or thinking inside it.
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March 11th, 2009 at 3:08 pm
Great article. We do use that cliche (or a variation) without thinking what are we really wanting. People are afraid of failure and are therefore not willing to try new ideas, because what if it doesn’t work.
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March 12th, 2009 at 3:28 pm
This reminded me of a game that was being passed around years ago called BS Bingo. Basically you took this “bingo” card with you to your corporate meetings and you marked off each time you heard a certain phrase such as “think outside of the box”. It was quite comical as it really hit the nail on the head!
In all seriousness, having a corporate background myself, I understand what “thinking outside of the box” is supposed to mean. So many companies fail because employees want to do things the way they have always been done. In other words they want to stay in their comfort zone. I believe change is good, however as someone so eloquantly put it, “if everyone is outside of the box, who is on the inside?”
Remember Don’t Fall In Love With A Corporation; It Can Not Love You Back
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March 14th, 2009 at 7:16 pm
I wonder if there’s another term besides “outside the box”? Maybe I should start a contest of my own…
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March 16th, 2009 at 12:12 pm
I thought this was excellent and really makes you think what can I do “outside that box.”
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August 11th, 2009 at 12:14 pm
[...] you can do. You really have to think about all of the possibilities. You have to consider ‘out of the box’ thought [...]