Don’t Use This Cliché

“Think outside of the box!” This overused cliché “covertly” urges people to partake in different or unconventional thinking. It asks a person or organization to abandon legacy approaches to address a particular, often temporary, situation in a non-traditional way. It asks humans to disregard cultural norms and historical training in favor of progress and then return to the same approaches they were just asked to abandon. This is very interesting (but counter intuitive).

Let’s take a moment to understand the complex human. Beyond cognitive considerations, people (and organizations) are creatures of habit. Yes, they are highly adaptive to unforeseen circumstances, effectively maneuvering through challenges, which threaten their existence. However, our ultimate goal is to return to a place of comfort, consistency and safety. We are adaptive but most of the time, we don’t enjoy change.

The Past Walls Destroy the Future Views

How can an organization encourage “Thinking outside the box?” Here’s the secret – it can’t. Most organizations are successful because of well-defined and structured processes that contribute to its efficiency. Unfortunately, this “benefit” is both a gift and a curse, as movement beyond the “organized boundaries” becomes almost impossible for the well-trained employee. Most organizations discourage “real free thinking.” Instead, they advocate thinly veiled attempts to get temporary innovation from people who have been encouraged to remain comfortably sterile.

For example, a global Fortune 100 company, well known for producing the world’s most talented martial artists (Six Sigma), struggled to implement a new business process. For several years, its black belts worked diligently to make a 2015 concern fit into a 1990 box. They were unable to move beyond a standard (historical) approach to address contemporary concerns. After several unsuccessful attempts to complete the project (and the arrogance to not seek help), the company cancelled the project. There is nothing more disheartening than investing valuable resources, which yield a negative ROI.

Burning the Box: Complete the Innovation Transformation

Real innovation is not a project; it’s a culture. People are encouraged to consistently think and act differently – for the sake of the organization. Employees are not moving from a place of complacency to a place of creativity. They continuously dwell in the innovation space. They are not asked to “think outside the box” because there is no box to constrain them.

Leaders need to evaluate their culture and systems carefully. If the lack of innovation is hindering organizational progress (you are in a box), consider compelling (cultural change) all stakeholders to permanently move from a responsive posture to a permanently disruptive position (burn the box). Leaders must remove all restrictive boundaries, inspiring intellectual expansion and behavioral development among all contributors.

Innovation Is…

Innovation is more than a buzzword; it is an actionable, profitable culture that constantly works to improve itself. It is not constrained by historical perspectives because it is motivated by potential opportunities. It does not temporarily eliminate obstructions because there are no obstacles to remove. Burn the box today!