Thinking outside the box is a critical PersonalSkill - one
that will make the difference between success or failure.
The real critical leadership skill is accessing the
thinking of others to help see what possibilities lie
outside the box – outside the individual world of
thoughts and beliefs and biases.
Try this tool to get the "out of box" thinking flowing with
your “universe” of people.
Draw a square 1 foot by 1 foot. Divide all four sides into
3 inch increments. Connect the markings horizontally and
vertically. You now have a large square with 16 little
squares inside it - a grid pattern.
Ask your people how many different squares can be seen in
the grid. The first answer is usually 16. With some
encouragement someone will say 17 - then eighteen - then
19 or 20. That will only happen if you, as leader of this
exercise, show an expectation for a larger number than the
first answer - which is usually given quickly and with
conviction. Stay at it - keep asking how many squares
others see. Engage everyone in the answer. The number of
squares will continue to increase. With a lot of
encouragement your group may get to 24 to 26. Not bad - but
there are 30 squares of various sizes that can be
identified in the grid.
See how many people try to work alone. See how many include
others in their discussion. When the group has just about
exhausted the possibilities, tell them the answer. If
someone gets the answer, ask them to describe the squares -
so that others can gain knowledge.
The point? The group was probably willing to accept the 16
or 17 or even 20 squares that were stated quickly and with
conviction. Had they done that, they would have left 10 or
so squares unidentified. Can your business afford that kind
of superficial observation and conclusion ? Does that kind
of dynamic happen often? Make those points as a means of
pointing out how very important it is to challenge quick
answers - how very important it is to share thoughts - how
very important it is to encourage - or demand - that people
expand their perceptions and look at things through the
eyes of others.
There's balance required in this process. Winston Churchill
once said "It's important to have an open mind, but not so
open that our brains fall out." The same is true when it
comes to thinking outside our own boxes. But in at least
95% of the cases where groups attempt to reach for the best
answers, many of the members simply don't share or
contribute their inputs. The last thing you have to be
concerned with is any brains falling out of open minds
– the real concern is getting all the brains
contributing.
I suggest to you that the critical Personal Skill leaders
bring to thinking outside the box is the skill to draw out
and value those hard - to - get - at inputs from others.
They're the difference between seeing 20 boxes or 30 boxes.
Which is better for your organization?
Try this tool with your group – use it to help define
what you mean by “thinking outside the box.” Do
it today.
----------------------------------------------------
Andy Cox helps clients align their resources and design and
implement change through the application of goals focused
on the important few elements that have maximum impact in
achieving success - as defined by the client. He can be
reached at http://www.coxconsultgroup.com or at
acox@coxconsultgroup.com
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