Thinking (and Doing) Outside the Box

“If you’re going to think outside the box, first you have to know the box!” So says a friend of mine who is an executive at a Hartford insurance company. Knowing and understanding the box – its parameters, the ins and outs of how it works and why, the needs and expectations that make the box the box  – gives you a solid foundation to build upon.

Many people are satisfied to simply do the job they were hired to do, collect their pay, and reserve their creativity for personal endeavors. The average worker is, well, the average worker. That’s good for business and good for the dreamers – with the vast majority of the workforce being satisfied working within “the box,” the structure is in place for others to venture out from it.

If you are one who is not satisfied working within the box, exploring new territory and experimenting with new ideas may be what challenges and motivates you, and keeps you interested and involved. Once you have mastered the box, experimentation and creativity are what sets you apart. My corporate friend says, “Corporations are funny beasts. On the one hand they are very resistant to independent thinking. Actually, in practice we really try to discourage it though we often pay lip service to it. But on the other hand, it is usually the independent, creative, entrepreneurial thinkers that rise to the top. It’s like if you can break through the barriers we put in the way, you’ve earned your stripes and now you get to reap the rewards.”

So for you “out-of-the-box-ers,” as you “blue sky” your thinking process, here are a few things to keep in mind:

1. “Be as imaginative as a child, as curious as a kitten and as creative as an artist.” Just about anything is possible, so don’t edit your initial thinking. (However, since not everything is probable, prudently edit your ideas before handing them up.)
2. Let your imagination soar, yet keep a tether to the box – that means don’t forget the mission, the purpose behind your explorations. Touch down regularly to check the efficacy of your ideas and to be sure they are clear, direct and on-point.
3. Don’t be afraid of taking risks, just make sure the risks are realistic – your organization is focused on its bottom line, not yours, so your bottom may be on the line! Likewise, don’t be afraid to fail. Just learn from the failures.
4. Above all, keep faith in yourself and do not take naysayers to heart. Even rejected ideas may have great value. If your ideas are not accepted where you are, you may want to go where they will be.