Think Inside a Bigger Box

The phrase “think outside the box” is one of those clichés that started out with a basis in a great idea but has been so overused that its original meaning was lost. I had a boss who took it one step further, telling us to “throw away the box.” On the surface it is an appealing idea: develop options without limitation. But the reality is, we always have constraints and restraints on our actions – there are things we have to do, there are things we cannot do – and there is the reality of the environment around us. The trick is not to throw away the box or try to step completely outside it; the trick is to understand the borders of your box, make it bigger where you can, and take advantage of opportunities that exist.

What are some things that can’t change? Well, laws, for one (assuming we’re talking about the immediate to short-term…maybe, with enough time, you can get laws changed, but that is a pretty drastic process). And of course, that does not just mean the laws of man, but the laws of nature, too. Once you accept that there really are some things beyond your control you will be open to the idea and start looking for other limitations, rather than just chanting “there is no box…there is no box…” Those limits define the realm of the possible, and within that realm lie all the options available to you.

What is important to notice are those limits that CAN be changed. What is within your power to control? If you are limited by your employees’ technical skills, how about recruiting new employees with the technical skills you need? If the amount of available office space is the only thing standing between you and a bigger workforce, how about implementing a telecommuting option?

When your employees bring you ideas for changes, it is common for your default response to be “we can’t,” because you have been working within those limits and are used to them. But ask yourself: why not? Why can’t we do this differently? Do we really have to accept this restriction? Is it being forced upon us by outsiders, or is it something we are forcing upon ourselves? Very often it is the latter, and in that case you need to consider whether changing that limit would give you a bigger set of options, at a cost you can afford.

A big advantage of a larger workforce is that they can find solutions outside of their primary function, simply because they have a broader view. Consider putting cross-functional teams to work with the specific goal of finding places where the box can be stretched and pulled and shaped in a way that gives you more opportunities for success. You might not choose one of those new opportunities, but it is always nice to have options.

Such groups should include newer and older employees; the newer ones are less constrained by history (“we have always done it that way”) whereas your more experienced people know what has worked and what has not in the past (“here is WHY we have always done it that way”). Between the two you should be able to expand the ways in which your business can succeed. Still inside a box…but with a little more room to flex your creative muscles.