"Thinking outside the box" is overused and often not necessary.

“We need more Box Creators in the world” - Major Williams

It's no secret that we often overuse buzzwords and popular phrases in our daily conversations. One phrase that has become particularly overused is "thinking outside the box." But what does it really mean to think outside the box?

According to Merriam-Webster, to think outside the box means "to explore ideas that are creative and unusual and that are not limited or controlled by rules or tradition." In other words, it's a way of thinking that ignores the rules and traditions that often hold us back.

But here's the thing: most businesses can't simply ignore all rules and traditions. In fact, in many cases, "outside the box" thinking is not even necessary. Sometimes, all a problem needs is good old-fashioned thinking.

So next time someone suggests that you need to think outside the box, take a moment to consider if it's really necessary. Chances are, a little creative thinking will do the trick.

Now if you search the internet for types of thinking, you find as many different versions as people writing about it.  At this moment in time, I’m focused on 8 different types of thinking. (I reserve the right to grow and share that growth in a future article.)

1. Critical 

2. Analytical    

3. Creative

4. Abstract

5. Concrete

6. Convergent

7. Divergent

8. Reflective 

Here is a brief description of each type of thinking

Critical –  analyze information from different perspectives.

Analytical – structured and method based thinking.

Creative – identifies new ideas often what is referred to as outside the box thinking.

Abstract –  ability to bring meaning to seemingly unrelated things.

Concrete – practical to the point thinkers.  Could be considered inside the box thinkers.

Convergent – focus on finding one well defined direction.

Divergent – explores a number of options to identify the most effective solution.

Reflective – reviews previous solutions, learns from them and improves them.

While "outside the box" thinking is an important skill to have, it's not the only type of literal. In fact, using multiple types of thinking frameworks can often provide a wider perspective and better evaluation of a problem.

Enter the "box creator." This is someone who has the ability to use multiple thinking frameworks to solve problems, and who can create a space within an organization for growth and adaptability. The box creator is able to update conventional wisdom and develop new rules and processes to support a new way of thinking, essentially creating a new "box" for others to work within.

It's important to remember that most people are comfortable working within a defined set of rules and processes. By providing a space for growth and adaptability, the box creator can help an organization stay agile and adapt to new challenges.

Based on the problem at hand a box creator knows when to deploy the appropriate thinking methodology to the process.  As one can imagine, each type of thinking takes not only a different approach but a different amount of time and energy to complete. When there's a fire, it's important to act quickly and efficiently. Divergent thinking, or coming up with many different ideas, isn't the best approach in this situation. Instead, it's better to focus on convergent thinking, which involves finding the most effective solution to the problem at hand.

The first step should be to call the fire department. Don't waste time trying to figure out the cause of the fire or how to put it out. Leave that to the professionals and focus on getting everyone to safety. Once the fire is out, you can take some time to reflect and analyze the cause, and come up with strategies to prevent it from happening again in the future.

It's natural for people to have a tendency towards a certain style of thinking, but it's important to remember that thinking is a skill that can be developed. By practicing different thinking methodologies and staying open to new ideas, you can become a more versatile and effective thinker.

How to become a box creator?

Learn about the different types of thinking and apply them to situations.  

Apply what you learn to everyday situations.  It is going to take some time to develop these skills but it is worth doing.  The key is to turn knowledge into know-how.   Learn then do and do again and learn some more.  That is transforming knowledge into know-how.   

Reflect on the problems you have encountered and resolved.  Look at them from a different thinking framework.  Did you come to the same conclusion?  Is there something you can add to the solution to improve it?  There is always room for improvement.  Do not be so committed to your initial solution that you are unwilling to improve it or change it altogether.  That is all a part of box creation.  

Refine put what you learned during your reflective time in action.  As Albert Einstein said? “Doing the same thing and expecting a different result is insanity.”  This may be where you start teaching what you learn to others.  It's been my experience, when I make an effort to teach others what I know.  My knowledge gets more refined.

The next time you are in a room and you hear we need to think outside the box.  You may be the one saying it. Stop for a  moment and think.  Is that really what you need to solve this problem?

What are your thoughts?  What style of thinking do you believe is the most important?  Leave your comments below.   I’m always interested in learning and growing. 

Until Next Time…