How often have you heard the expression "thinking outside the box"? What does it mean and how can it help you and your business?
The expression comes from a fairly well known puzzle of 9 dots arranged in three rows of three forming a "box." To solve the puzzle you must connect all 9 dots with only 4 lines without picking up your pencil. Most of the time when I show this puzzle to an audience I get those head nods that they have seen it before and then the pained look as they admit, "I can't remember how to solve it."
The expression "thinking outside the box" is the best clue. You will need to draw lines that extend outside the box formed by the dots in order to solve the puzzle.
So what is the lesson for business teams and individuals who want to innovate?
Staying within a confined space or set of confining rules will badly limit the ability to come up with new and different ideas that could lead to innovation. Einstein said, and I paraphrase, 'you can't find solutions by continuing to think in the ways that created the problem in the first place.'
This series of articles will each address a different technique or template to enhance idea generation that can lead to innovation.
The definition of innovation that I use is 'an idea not done in exactly the same way as already available and for which there is some level of demand (willingness to pay).' Please note that this is not limited to physical products. It could be a new way of providing a service, for example. Or it could be a new technique for establishing a plan or procedure.
Every one of these were innovations when someone thought of them: New combinations such as adding an unusual ingredient to a recipe that creates a new and distinct flavor. New way to package an existing item that makes it easier to open or to get all the contents out. A new way to package that keeps the contents fresher. A piece of clothing made from a fabric never used for that type of garment before. An electronic element added to what had been a board game. A template for running a meeting or planning event that has never been used before. A keyboard divided in half so that it can be angled the way our hands fit naturally on our arms. Medical advice given live through chat and video online that before required a face-to-face visit to a doctor's office. A pager to let clients know when the table at a restaurant is ready or 10 minutes before a doctor or other professional will be ready to see you. An automated return phone call system when the wait time gets excessive on a technical support line.
Other innovations have happened by accident, a mistake that turns out to be a useful and profitable idea such as post-it® notes for 3M.
Whether a happy accident or a deliberate brainstorming or experimental event, each happened because the participants had an open mind and were willing to think outside the box.
Innovation - What It Means to Think Outside the Box Check For The New Release in Health, Fitness & Dieting Category of Books NOW!
Check What Are The Top Cooking Books in Last 90 Days Best Cheap Deal!
Check For Cookbooks Best Sellers 2012 Discount OFFER!
Check for Top 100 Most Popular Books People Are Buying Daily Price Update!
Check For 100 New Release & BestSeller Books For Your Collection
Hazel Wagner, PhD, MBA, CMC
Author, Speaker, Consultant, Entrepreneur, Business Brain Facilitator
Certified/Qualified in DISC, HBDI, Mindex, MBTI Myers-Briggs
hazel.wagner@b9d.com
Author: Power Brainstorming: Great Ideas at Lightning Speed
http://www.hazelwagner.com
http://www.brainstorming-that-works.com
watches mobile phone Save Save On La Mer The Powder 03 Beige Best Buy Peerless Industries Desktop Articulating Mount Lct Special Price Progressive Automations Linear Actuator Stroke Size
