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Think inside the box
We tell people to think outside of the box. Concepts like these are great for creativity with no limits. The issue for many is that the box exists for a reason. For example, regulations and compliance are often necessary for these situations. Restrictions and limitations challenge our creativity as we have to be creative within the scope of what is allowed.
Often when doing 360 feedback surveys, creativity is an area where many people struggle. Both to be creative themselves but also to help those around them to be more creative. During coaching sessions, part of this issue is because specific parameters restrict them. I often use the term in the box thinking to describe this situation.
Some people are naturally creative. They see a task and will approach it in a new and unique way. Most of us struggle to develop different ways of thinking or doing an activity. There are several reasons for this:
- Fear of failure
- Fear of doing something different
- Fear of being wrong
Fear of failure
If we try a new approach, we could fail completely. To fail, we need to be in a safe environment. We need to view failure as a positive step on the way to a solution. If one attempt doesn’t work, what modifications might help to do better the next time?
