How to come up with solutions by Thinking Outside the Box

What does “Thinking outside the box” really mean? First, have you ever found yourself stuck in the confines of a problem, desperately seeking a way out? I certainly have, particularly during an IT project where our team hit a roadblock, and our manager urged us to “think outside the box.”

At that moment, my teammates and I exchanged puzzled looks. We wanted to think creatively and explore new avenues but needed to figure out how to start. We knew we had to break free from conventional thinking, but the ‘how’ was a puzzle. That’s the thing about the ‘box.’ It is a symbolic boundary, a cozy cocoon of familiar ideas we can learn to transcend.

So, what exactly does ‘thinking outside the box’ entail? It’s about breaking away from conventional methods and exploring uncharted territories of creativity and innovation. But it’s easier said than done, right?

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Techniques to think outside the box

Here are three techniques that can help you think outside the box.

1- Brainstorming Session

Gather your team, set aside preconceived notions, and dive into a collaborative brainstorming session. It’s a treasure trove of collective imagination!

To kickstart a productive brainstorming session:

1. Create a conducive environment that fosters open communication and creativity.
2. Gather a diverse group of individuals who bring different perspectives and expertise.
3. Set a clear goal or problem statement to focus the discussion.
4. Encourage everyone to share their ideas freely without judgment or criticism.

Quantity over quality

Use techniques like mind mapping or word association to generate a pool of ideas. Allow for a designated time and make the priority quantity over quality. It encourages a free flow of thoughts without overthinking. Remember, the wilder the ideas, the better it is. They often serve as a springboard for innovative solutions.

Finally, after the brainstorming phase, evaluate and refine the ideas collaboratively, selecting the most promising ones to develop further. Emphasize teamwork and ensure that each voice is heard and valued throughout the session.

You can brainstorm by yourself and write down all your ideas on paper or a document. This technique is compelling and helps “Think outside the box.”

2- Mind Mapping

Imagine doodling your thoughts into a structured, visual brainstorm. That is mind mapping. Mind mapping is a powerful visual technique for organizing thoughts and ideas around a central concept or problem. Let’s see an overview of the steps:

1. It starts with a central idea or topic you can write at the center of a paper.
2. Then, from this central idea, create branches radiating outward, like spokes on a wheel. Each branch represents a different aspect, subtopic, or idea related to the main theme.
3. And last, keep branching out from each subtopic, connecting related ideas with lines and keywords.

Example of Mind Mapping

For example, if your central idea is “Project Improvement,” branches could include “Timeline Optimization,” “Team Collaboration,” “Resource Allocation,” and so on. Under each branch, you’d expand with specific strategies or elements pertinent to that aspect. This visual representation allows for a comprehensive exploration of potential solutions and connections between various project components.

For instance, one branch could lead to consider borrowing strategies from diverse industries. You could find that principles from seemingly unrelated fields could offer unconventional solutions. Who knew that lessons from architecture or psychology could unlock the knots of an unrelated problem?

If you want to know more about this technique, we teach you step-by-step how to make a mind map with our course’s detailed instructions and practical exercises.

3- Provocative Questions

Have you ever thought of asking questions that challenge assumptions? It’s a catalyst for innovative thinking. Questions like “What if failure was not an option?” or “How would a child approach this problem?” can stir unconventional ideas.

Examples of provocative questions

Here are a few more examples of provocative questions that can stimulate innovative thinking in problem-solving scenarios:

1. “What if limitations didn’t exist? How would we approach this problem differently?”
2. “How might we solve this if we only had half our current resources?”
3. “How would our competitors solve this problem? What can we learn from their potential approaches?”
4. “What unconventional methods could we borrow from completely unrelated industries to tackle this challenge?”
5. “If we had to approach this from the perspective of our end-user’s dreams, what would be the ideal outcome?”

These questions challenge assumptions, encourage creative thinking, and prompt individuals or teams to explore solutions from unconventional angles, fostering innovation and out-of-the-box ideas.

You might be interested in How Problem-Solving Skills Can Get You On Top Of The Game.

Conclusion

Remember that “thinking outside the box” is less about demolishing the box and more about expanding its boundaries. It’s about embracing the unfamiliar, welcoming unconventional ideas, and daring to explore uncharted territories of creativity.

When faced with our manager’s request to “think outside the box,” we used the brainstorming session technique to find solutions for the project. The fact that we were free to suggest ideas without judgment made it a fun and creative session.

Embrace the unknown

So, when faced with a daunting problem, leap over that box’s boundaries and embrace the unknown. Who knows what wonders await?

If you’re interested in taking your ways of thinking to the next level, I invite you to enroll in my online course, “Building a Growth Mindset for Success. “This course aims to help you cultivate a growth mindset that will empower you to achieve your goals with tangible results. You will learn critical thinking and problem-solving skills such as mind mapping.

Join today and embark on a journey towards your future!