Summary

The article discourages using the cliché "think outside the box" to describe creativity, instead advocating for a deeper understanding of creativity through divergent thinking, embracing limitations, and combining ideas.

Abstract

The concept of "thinking outside the box" is a cliché that does little to enhance understanding of creativity. The article proposes that creativity should be viewed as a lifestyle characterized by openness, authenticity, and curiosity, as defined by Dr. Cyndi Burnette. It traces the origin of the "9-dot problem" as a historical tool to illustrate creative problem-solving, emphasizing that true creativity involves learning about creativity itself. The article suggests that by using specific language and concepts such as divergent thinking, acknowledging limitations, and combining ideas, individuals and organizations can foster a more intentional and effective approach to creativity.

Opinions

The phrase "think outside the box" is an unhelpful cliché that should be abandoned.
Creativity is more than just coming up with new ideas; it's a mindset and approach to life.
The 9-dot problem is an example that demonstrates the need to challenge assumptions and think differently.
Creativity should be understood as a field of study, similar to science or math, to be effectively cultivated.
Divergent thinking, with its four guidelines (defer judgment, generate wild ideas, aim for quantity, and build on others' ideas), is foundational to creative processes.
Limitations are beneficial as they push individuals to explore new solutions beyond the familiar.
Combining ideas, especially those that are unrelated, can lead to highly creative outcomes.
Using intentional language about creativity can help individuals and groups to better grasp and apply creative thinking.

Don’t Think Outside the Box

Don’t even say it.

Image credit (modified by author): Download Thinking Out Of The Box Cartoon Character Idea Royalty-Free Stock Illustration Image — Pixabay

Thinking outside the box? Don’t do it. Don’t even think about it. Definitely don’t say it! I say this because the phrase is a cliché that tells us nothing about what being creative involves or how to be more creative. If anything, it is limiting to our understanding of creativity.

So, what is creativity and how do we define it without using a useless cliché? I prefer to use an explanation that comes from Dr. Cyndi Burnette, Director of Creativity and Education.

“Creative thinking is more than coming up with new ideas. It is about living life in a way that is open, authentic, and curious. It is a mindset and approach to everything we do.”

The above explanation provides insight into what goes into being creative. We should remain open to alternatives, be authentic with our efforts, and remain curious about the world. While it still isn’t specific about defining creativity, it provides a much more practical explanation. I’ll provide more ways to intentionally discuss creativity after we look at the history behind the phrase “Thinking outside the box.”

The origin of “Thinking outside the box.”

Image credit: History of the Nine Dot Problem — Art of Play

In the 70s and 80s, management consultants used something called the 9-dot problem to demonstrate the importance of challenging assumptions and thinking differently.

Don’t scroll down too far, the answer is after the next paragraph.

Above is an image of the 9-dot problem. I encourage you to try to solve it yourself before looking at the answer after the next paragraph. The goal is to connect all 9 dots using 4 straight lines without lifting your pen/pencil. Go ahead, try it out.

Answer

For additional solutions, see History of the Nine Dot Problem — Art of Play

This is a difficult task no doubt, and one that requires creativity. You must “think outside the box” to solve the problem. We typically assume this means thinking differently or avoiding traditional solutions. Ironically, we aren’t “thinking outside the box” or being creative when we regurgitate this mindless cliché. Quite the opposite. We’re reinforcing assumptions that creativity has some on/off switch and that people understand what to do when we say this. Instead, we can learn about the subject of creativity to develop a vocabulary that will help us intentionally talk about creativity.

What should we say and do?

Creativity is far more than something that happens in or around a box. It is not something that can be summed up using a mindless cliché. It’s a feild of study — like science or math.

“The best way to become more creative is to learn about creativity.” ~ Some guy at the Southern Oregan University Creativity Conference 2019.

Instead, we can use intentional language that has practical meaning. Some of the concepts that we can use are divergent thinking, combining ideas, and limitations. You can find brief explanations below.

Divergent thinking is when we think of many solutions to a problem, or many uses for an object. It’s the foundation of all creative thinking. There are also 4 guidelines we can use to reach our full potential.

1. Don’t judge the ideas.

2. Think of wild, crazy, impossible, and ridiculous ideas.

3. Go for quantity over quality.

4. Build on the ideas of others.

Limitations help us to be more creative because they take away what is familiar and force us to explore alternative solutions. Without limitations, we might repeat what we know and never discover different ways of solving problems.

Combining ideas is another action that leads to creative outcomes. It could be said that all creativity is the result of combining previous ideas. The more unrelated the ideas are, the greater potential they have for being creative.

How might we use these terms instead of saying “think outside the box”? Let’s say we need to find ways to raise money because we’ve lost funding from a major donor. We can acknowledge that we are faced with a limitation that requires a creative solution. Next, we could spend time using divergent thinking on ways that might work. It’s important to understand its 4 guidelines to intentionally create an understanding and a safe environment that empowers creativity. As we are divergent thinking, we can decide on combining ideas — what ideas might we combine with fundraising, or what are the most unrelated ideas we might combine with raising money?

Understanding divergent thinking and its 4 guidelines offers proven methods that help us discover creative solutions. Recognizing that we are faced with limitations can help reframe the problem in a positive way that empowers us to embrace creative opportunities. Because we know that all creativity is the result of combining previous ideas, we can intentionally search for unique solutions by combining similar, opposite, or completely unrelated ideas. Understanding creativity helps us to be deliberate in the ways we discuss it and how we approach it.

We need to stop telling people to “think outside the box.” Let’s put this cliché in a box and burn it. We don’t want it. It hurts our creativity and perpetuates negative perceptions that harm our creative potential. Instead, we should learn about the subject of creativity so that we can talk about it with intentionality and in a way that everyone understands. Let’s be deliberate and use terms like divergent thinking, limitations, and combining ideas, just to name a few. Let’s change the way we talk about creativity so that we can help others and ourselves reach our creative potential.