Out of box thinking

Around few years back,  I was attending a training programme in Ahmadabad. In the beginning of the programme, the faculty member asked us to write 10 activities you will do, "incase you had an wings to fly" .
Each one started to write, some of them couldn't finish 10, but many of them have finished 10 before the time allotted. But one person was keep writing more than 10 points within the given time. This is what called 'Out of box thinking". When the time & opportunities are abundant, why to stop at 10

"Out of box thinking", word is self-explanatory. This is the mantra corporate houses conceptualize , in each industry, to extract extra-mile from their employees and to unearth the hidden potential of an employee. Thus always out of box thinkers get suitable / high rewards too. Even in many of the organization, you may find that with same qualification, age, experience and even in same designation the rewards may vary to a large proportion from other persons.

 

It is one of the most sought quality for any individual, that everyone wants to born with such a great skills, but in a practically it is just opposite. We often have come across many people, who find it difficult to think & apply their mind for a simple job, in such a scenario it will too much to expect an out-of-box thinking from everybody.

 

During the entire history, we are witnessing many out of box thinkers, who have helped the way we live today, let it be social, science, political and information technology.

 

Incase of social, some of the out-of-box-thinkers, which I can name here are Osho, Buddha, Jesus, Adi Shankara, Ramanujam, Socrates and Confucius had such a extraordinary out-of-box-thinking power, that they have changed the world and the impact is timeless. There are many name to add in this category.

 

In scientific category, the out of box thinkers as Newton, Write brothers (Orville and Wilbur Wright), Thomas Edison and Marcony, Aryabhata and so on. The list is indeed huge.

 

On the information technology side, Alexander Graham Bell, Bill Gates and so many. Infact "facebook" itself is an product of out-of-box-thinking of Mark Zuckerberg, who invented while he was staying in his dormitory.

 

We had out of box thinkers in all fields and out-of-box-thinking is continued non-stop each day in each field.

 

How one can develop the skill "Out of box thinking"?.

1) Have systematic approach.

2) Do not unnecessarily follow others, as you may lose your own identity and in the process you may find difficulties in unearthing the hidden potential of your own.

3) Regular exercise, meditation and keep the mind and health fit.

4) Should be brave enough
5) Have pride of profession.

6) Keep mind fresh and open to ideas (Be a good listener)

7) Be ethical and moral.

8) Read good books.

9) Retention of creativity.

10) Very important, keep right attitude all the possible time.

 

The above are some of the qualities, which may give enough space for you to become an out of box thinker under given any circumstance. But please keep it in mind, the 10 points above are not final.

 

But you must remember, all the time out of box thinking may not yield favourable results and may create a reversal comments from others. Hence have a through understanding of the pros&cons of the idea, before putting into process or expressing to anybody.

 

Each out-of-box thinking should end with some creativity and easy to implement by the user. They also should help the fellow colleagues to understand, new concept/idea.

 

Moreover it should be occasional and spontaneous . Out of box thinkers should not put themselves on stress/pressure that they always have to think, anything in a out-of-box manner. Many times the problem needs a direct and simple approach. Also in the process, one should not try to become a perfectionist, as again this won't help.

 

Also out-of-box thinkers should make a note of it, that normal thinking with sincerity and hard works always pays right.

 

In nutshell, you must learn "what is the proportion you have to maintain between the normal thinking and out-of-box thinking" for any issue.

 

Each organization also should put effort to ensure such a talented people are ring-fenced and their growth, rewards are identified and regulated.

 

I want to conclude that, each human arrived earth with great skills and his powers & talent cannot be described in words. No human is less to anybody. It is all in the hands an individual, how they can explore  and  communiated in a presentable way at right time.

 

Best wishes.

SK Raja