Learn to Think INSIDE the Box
This great advice comes from Chip and Dan Heath, authors of the best-selling book, Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die. Their take on creativity is attention-getting because it goes against the grain of one of the business world’s most popular clichés: Think OUTSIDE the box.
In their column in the December 2007 issue of FastCompany magazine, the Heath brothers make a strong case that innovation is easier when there is a sharp focus for the creativity process—like limits, boundaries, or specific parameters—a clear “box” in other words. Bob Rosenfeld and other researchers of innovation would agree. They have identified key innovation “styles” in the workplace that function inside of well-defined “boxes.”
One such innovation style is goal-based. It is accessed when there is a clearly-defined goal at the focus of a team’s creative thinking. The ideas generated all have to do with “how do we make this happen?” The result will be innovative strategies or tactics.
easier/better/faster/smarter/cheaper/safer
Another innovation style is process-based. It is the kind of creativity that Toyota Manufacturing is constantly applying. They call it KAIZEN or continuous improvement. This is when teams focus on a very well-defined “box” in the form of a specific production process—and think creatively about how to improve it and make it easier/better/faster/smarter/cheaper/safer.
The take-away for leaders is to learn how valuable “in-the-box” thinking can be for their teams and their organizations. Don’t be afraid to turn your people loose on a tough issue; problem; challenge; OR LIMITATION of some kind. Encourage your people to share their ideas with you. Affirm them when they do. And use careful experimentation to limit the risk of failure when you apply new approaches.
There are plenty of such opportunities in the workplace—challenges that every leader faces:
- How do we do what we do more efficiently?
- Where can we save some money or use what we have more effectively?
- How can we serve our customers better?
- Where are we wasting time… or money… or personnel… or precious man-hours?
If you would like your team to learn how to become more creative, let us know! We can show them how with some fun and engaging workshops designed to unlock their creative thinking, and help them think inside their boxes!
And if YOU would like to be more creative—stay tuned to this blog! We promise to keep providing you with ideas and tools that will fuel your continued effectiveness and impact.
Until next time… Yours for better leaders and better organizations,
Dr. Jim Dyke – “The Boss Doctor” ™ helping you to BE a better boss and to HAVE a better boss!
