Some people believe the phrase “Think Outside the Box,” is outdated, but consultants still see it as a valuable tool to get people to think differently.
It all has to do with the left and right sides of the brain. Most people are trained to use the left side of the brain, which is responsible for Numbers, Analysis, Logic, Lists, and Sequence. The right side, however, is the source of Imagination, Creativity, Color Perception, Daydreaming, and Rhythm.
So, Thinking Outside the Box is actually using the right side of the brain in an exercise in creative thinking.
Here’s the difference: People who think inside the box are good at accepting the status quo and have a tendency to reject creative ideas. They are not good at finding solutions to problems. They are very good at “killing” other people’s ideas and discouraging their creative thinking, regardless of the value of the “new” idea. They often follow the practices because “that’s the way we’ve always done it.” Their attitude is “It’ll Never Work’”, or “What’s Wrong With the Way We Do It Now?”
People who think outside the box are excited to make worthwhile changes and actually believe there may be more than one solution to a problem, and that solutions must constantly be tested to assure continued efficiency.
The phrase “Think Outside the Box” originated from the solution to a puzzle with 9 dots (see below). The object is to connect all 9 dots with 4 lines without lifting your pen off the sheet of paper. Give it a try!
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