"Think outside the box" is one of the most frequently repeated phrases in the business world. But how many companies or leaders truly manage to implement it? The reality is often different. The structures that surround us – whether through education, industry, or hierarchy – make it difficult to truly think outside of familiar patterns. There are good reasons why innovation is often lacking in organizations.
Educational constraints: Birds of a feather flock together
Our education system is designed to prepare us for specific professions. It produces people who share similar ways of thinking. We are taught to think within defined pathways, and many ideas that don’t fit into these pathways are never even considered. This leads to a lack of diversity in the way we approach problems. If everyone follows the same approaches, how can anything truly new emerge?
A classic example is the fact that many executives have gone through the same MBA programs. The teachings are the same, the thought patterns standardized. However, innovation requires differences, new perspectives that don’t adhere to what has always worked.
Leaders who come off the same educational assembly line are like identical parts in a factory – it’s no surprise they all think and act the same.
Industry constraints: Guarded borders
Industries set not only formal but also informal boundaries that block innovation. How often do we hear phrases like: "We’ve already tried that; it doesn’t work" or "Our customers don’t want that"? This mindset is deeply rooted in many industries. People stick with the familiar because it seems safe. But here’s the problem: when everyone follows the same rules, new ideas are seen as a threat rather than an opportunity.
It often goes unnoticed that these "impossible" ideas are the ones that can revolutionize industries. Disruptors like Tesla or Airbnb succeeded by ignoring established norms. These companies were long disregarded by traditional players until they suddenly changed the market and left conventional competitors scrambling.
Average Joe/Jane: Avoiding risks to keep the job
In many companies, there is a culture of mediocrity. Employees who don’t stand out have less to lose. Who wants to take the risk of endangering their position? This mentality often leads to a lack of innovation. The fear of failure prevents great ideas from being tried in the first place.
It’s seen everywhere: people who stay in their roles because they know they are paid to maintain the status quo. They avoid doing anything that might jeopardize their career or income. But what if they dared to take risks? The biggest breakthroughs come when someone is willing to step out of their comfort zone and explore new paths – even if the risk is high.
To think outside the box, step into as many different boxes as possible. The more cross-pollination you have, the better.
Status quo as job description
In many cases, executives aren’t paid to bring about radical changes. Their job is to maintain the status quo or make slight optimizations. They are responsible for stability and predictability, not innovation. If that’s the requirement of the job, how can one expect groundbreaking ideas to come from this level?
Decision-makers are often not motivated to take risks. Instead, they prefer to optimize what already exists. But this approach causes many companies to stagnate over the years. If no one is rewarded for radical innovation, how can it happen?
The greatest danger in times of turbulence is not the turbulence; it is to act with yesterday's logic.
Peter Drucker
Beyond the brain box: Threaten your own business
To truly develop new ideas, you have to be willing to challenge yourself. This means breaking free from the mindset of your own industry. Innovation often comes from outside, from fresh perspectives that aren’t trapped within existing structures.
Ask yourself this: How would an innovative competitor threaten your business? Could you destroy your own business to rebuild it? This exercise forces you to recognize the weaknesses in your system and find solutions that go beyond familiar patterns.
Conclusion - Thinking outside the box
"Think outside the box" sounds great in theory, but the reality is different. We are often so trapped within our structures that it’s hard to develop truly new ideas. Only by consciously fighting these barriers and being willing to take risks can we leave the box – and preferably destroy it altogether.Thinking outside the box is bullshit
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