THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX: THE BOX JUST GOT LARGER

The saying 'think outside the box' has become wide spread to the extent that has become only a cliche and nothing more. Everyone claims to think outside the box and recruiters have probably heard this phrase very often that it no longer makes sense.

This term 'thinking outside the box' was introduced to the business world by management consultants in the 70's and 80's and entrepreneurs and managers quickly latched on to the idea. It means to think differently and unconventionally and is believed to be a leverage for creativity in the business world.  Generally, the competition is fierce and professionals, executives and managers are looking for a way to stand out or a means for their products or services to have that unique quality. Professionals got on the band wagon of this new way of thinking and it has become increasingly popular since the 80's.

Presently, everyone thinks outside the box or so it seems. Before now, emphasis was on the frame work of the box. Ideas were to be brought from outside the realm of common practices and believes.

I have news for you, now that everyone is thinking outside the box, the box just got larger. Thinking with reference to the box still has that confining effect of the box, figuratively speaking. Even though you feel you are consciously thinking outside the box, you are still limited, because you think with reference to the box.

Entrepreneurs and employees are paid for the value they have to offer. Hence there is a lot of ongoing research,new discoveries and creativity coming to light.

The key word presently is actually THINK and not the BOX. Thinkers are solution finders, problem solvers, innovative, creative and ultimately bring value to the market place. Thinking involves reflection, analysis and consideration of facts versus possibilities in order to create new ideas. According to Mariam Webster dictionary; thinking is to exercise the powers of judgement, conception or inference. It is simply the act of reason.

The various ways we can make thinking profitable and bring value are;

1. THINK FIRST

The normal sequence of things should be; think first then act later. There are situations were we act first and think later. When decisions are made based on sentiments, we tend to reverse the sequence. We unconsciously act first and think later. That is why you hear of situations where a murder is committed in the heat of anger, hate or bitterness. When the ill is done, then the person comes to realization and harbors regrets. Sentiments such as anger, love, jealousy etc hampers our normal thought process.

Instead of allowing sentiments take the fore of action, we should have a firm grip on our outburst as well as the sentiments we nurture.

2. THINK FAST

In emergency situations or under examination conditions, you need to think fast. This is because you have a limited time frame to think, you don't have much time for prolonged deliberation or research.

In emergency cases, there is no room for team meetings, board room meetings or toolbox talk while in the examination hall, you don't have time for group discussions. You have to draw up on your knowledge store to proffer solutions.

In order to think fast when the need arises, you have to ensure that your knowledge bank is not empty or depleted. Stock up and boost your knowledge base by reading good books, listening to motivational audio books and browse regularly to be at par with current findings. don't restrict yourself to gathering knowledge in only your area of expertise, read far and wide. No knowledge is irrelevant. It would usually come to play when you least expect.

When your knowledge store is in great shape, in times of critical or emergency situations you'll have a knowledge store to draw up on. You wont be left high and dry.

3. THINK DEEP

You should first identify bottle necks in operations, issues and modalities that are cumbersome. After identifying areas that need improvement, then think of better ways to carry out the task.

You must have this consciousness, that there is a solution to every presenting challenge. The solution needs to be sought.

When a patient visits the hospital, the doctor probes and asks questions with the aim of unraveling the symptoms and tracing it to the root cause. Challenges at hand are only symptoms and trying to alleviate only the pressing issues would only proffer a temporal solution. It would be like a band aid to a festering sore. The problems would proliferate and cause other issues later.

Thinking deep involves probing and  asking questions to understand the true nature of the present challenge. If the main issues are attended to, this leads to invention or the birth of new ideas.

4. THINK AHEAD

Another word for thinking ahead is, vision. You have to think beyond where you are presently, to where you want to be in the near future. Thinking ahead or having vision, is the hall mark of a great leader. You have to picture the end result you desire and the milestones that would take you there.

You cannot envisage, the exact route the journey to your destination would take you but you can prepare ahead for anything you might come across along the way, by thinking ahead.

Do not adopt the pandemonium tactic. Never wait till you get to the cross road before thinking up a solution for a prevailing challenge. Visualize your path to success and doggedly plod that road. Thinking ahead makes you move faster on the road of progress as compared to stumbling along the way unprepared.

Dubai was hardly a recognized country in the world but they have placed themselves on the map and are recognized today because the leader looked beyond the oil reserves and had vision. Now that oil prices are plunging a lot of countries who had solely relied on oil are looking for ways to survive. The economy of Dubai has improved over the years because of the vision born some years ago. The importance of thinking ahead cannot be over emphasized.

5. THINK SMART

When setting goals, you have to think SMART. Your goals should be;

S - Specific

M- Measurable

A- Achievable

R- Realizable

T- Time bound

"A good goal is like a strenuous exercise- it makes you stretch" Mary Kay Ash

Smart thinking is a combination of thinking deep, thinking ahead and thinking first. You have to consider the facts on ground in comparison with present information on the subject mater.

Thinking smart involves, finding ways to apply knowledge. Abstract knowledge is hardly useful but the application of this knowledge gathered is profitable. Thinking smart is simply setting goals and finding ways  to apply abstract knowledge.

TACTICS TO ADOPT FOR PROFITABLE THINKING

"Nurture your mind with great thoughts, for you will never go higher than you think" Benjamin Disiraeli

• MAKE THINKING A HABIT- Thinking as portrayed above, is a habit that ought to be formed. You need to pay attention to details, that way you would have relevant information as well as resources to furnish your thoughts. Cultivate the habit of being meticulous and painstaking in gathering information. Then consciously process the details you have gathered and think of ways to improve.
• CONSCIOUSLY DELIBERATE- Sometimes when you brain storm on possibilities you might not get solutions on the spur of the moment. Take time out to think things through. This encodes the information you are deliberating upon, into your subconscious mind. That is why, you can wake up with a new idea or solution. The eureka moment came from germination of the seeds of conscious thoughts which was previously planted through thinking.

• COLLABORATIVE THINKING- Sometimes, you have to go through brain storming sessions as a team. Think through on a subject matter with like minds, that is what is done in board meetings. As different people bring ideas, it can be combined, fine tuned and refined though collective thinking on the issue at hand.

PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER

For profitable management, progressive entrepreneurship and to add value to your profession, you need to think. Think first, think fast, think deep, think ahead and think smart.