Think as if there is no box
Most people are stuck in the way things have or are being done and struggle to consider how things could be done. They are bound by parameters they create, but that doesn’t necessarily exist; excuses they tell themselves and others for why things should not change. Thus they are bound by the proverbial box.
While many organizations talk about change, innovation, and being a leader in their industry, for the most part, it is just that, talk.
This kind of thinking holds them back because it limits their potential. In business it prevents an organization from being competitive, to be nimble and change with an ever-evolving and competitive landscape. While many organizations talk about change, innovation, and being a leader in their industry, for the most part, it is just that, talk. When you look beneath the surface, real innovation is often stifled by the structure of the organization, and the inability or unwillingness of those in positions of authority and influence to promote and embrace the kind of creative thinking that will set them apart.
Many things lock people into a mindset preventing them from being creative in their approach to how work get’s done. Often times it is from fear of the unknown, failure, or the possibility that they will be unable to rise to the challenge of what change will bring. It may also be the inability to think beyond the boundaries of what they already know and understand. Unfortunately, this kind of thinking is self-defeating because at its core is a false kind of self-preservation when in reality everyone is replaceable, and change will happen with or without them.
It is not enough to think “outside the box,” we must think as if there is no box. Leaders set the tone when it comes to innovation and bold thinking and must resist or overcome their tendency to go with the status quo to create an organization that is continuously evolving. To do this, they must challenge their way of thinking by asking themselves:
☑️ Why are we doing this?
☑️ Is it in the best interest of the organization?
☑️ Does it benefit the bottom line?
☑️ Is it a must or a nice to?
☑️ Does it make us more competitive?
☑️ Does it make us more effective?
If the answer is no, then whatever it is should be re-thought, then the question should be
☑️ If anything is possible what could we do?
To honestly think as if there was no box all considerations of ability, cost or practicality must be removed. Only then will creativity flourish and allow for the exploration of all possibilities.