Are you boxed in at your job?

Has anyone ever asked you to “think outside the box”?

Now and then it is a request by some organizational leaders to rally individuals or teams to think differently and creatively. The “Box” is a figurative concept which represents traditional, onedimensional thinking. To “Think outside the Box” is challenging for many employees as they have spent their work lives comfortably inside the Box. It’s what they know, how they have been rewarded and have kept them from making waves at work.

Interestingly enough, the Box starts getting constructed in our childhood. Our imaginations become impeded by reality and the constant urgings by parents and teachers to grow up, conform and fit in.

Creativity gets replaced with getting graded on how well you color inside the lines.

Before we know it, we are driving a car, graduating and working. We learn the ropes, try to act professional, get paid, get reviewed, get promoted and sometimes get out. Our early career stages are filled with rules, guidelines and “how we do things around here.”

In some organizations, employees are encouraged to be risk takers and be creative. But they are not sure what that means anymore, because the system has rung out their inner-child. At this stage, the Box is pretty much assembled with no room inside other than for you — creativity and innovative thinking have no place in the Box.

Believe it or not, there are employers who actually like having their employees boxed in. It’s pretty scary that this thinking still exists. In these companies, the following statements are more the norm versus the exception:

• “You’re lucky to even have a job.”

• “It’s work; it’s not supposed to be fun.”

• “I don’t pay you to think.”

• “Your job is what I say it is.”

• “This is the way we’ve always done things.”

Then there are other companies that recognize that their staffs’ thinking and approach to problem solving has become stagnant and ineffective. These organizations sometimes make desperate attempts to address the situation and retain creativity consultants to shake up their employees.

Unfortunately, this may be money poorly spent as symptoms are treated rather than the real problem of a workplace environment that simply does not support innovative thinking. Long after the creativity consultants leave, the boxes of traditional thinking remain with employees tightly packed into them.

You do not need to hire high-priced consultants to help with creative thinking at your workplace. If you are looking to break down boxes and workplace barriers to innovative thinking, consider some of the following:

• Let employees “scrape their knees” once in a while — Allow your team to take risks and try new ideas. Reward employees for trying something different. Consider implementing a Failure Rewards program instead of only focusing on workplace successes. Often rewarding the process versus the outcome is more meaningful and sends a clear message that trial and error and Out of the Box thinking is desired and supported.

• Eliminate corporate barriers — Archaic employment policies, demeaning rules and layers of bureaucracy simply makes the Box stronger, to the point where people are afraid to venture outside its walls.

• Add color — Take a trip to the local paint store and pick out some vibrant colors for your office.

• Better yet, ask your employees about their office décor, wall colors and carpeting — I bet you get some great feedback on how to create a workerfriendly and stimulating environment.

• Dress for productivity— Consider incorporating a business casual dress code at least once a week if not daily. Remember, most kids hate to dress up.

• Talk to Me — Talk with your team to find out their ideas on how you and your leadership team can support innovation, trial and error, risk taking and creative thought. They will appreciate being asked, and you will get some great advice.

• No more five-day workweek — If you ask most top performing employees, they will tell you that the traditional fiveday workweek with eighthour days is an archaic concept. They love flexible schedules/hours and focus on productivity and results rather than watching the clock.

• Women (should) rule — Sorry guys, but our track record over the last 100 years in business and government is not impressive. If you still have a bunch of guys running the place, it may be time to re-assess your approach on who is helping you run your business. Diversifying your leadership team leads to diversified and creative thinking. If you have a glass ceiling, the best thing you can do for your business is smash it to pieces.

There are certainly many more ideas on how to develop and maintain a workplace that supports creative thinking. Some may consider your ideas crazy. Well guess what? Crazy ideas work really well these days.

Your peers may laugh at your ideas. If they do, that is typically a good sign that you are probably on to something great! Most likely, those ideas are the ones that support your continued business success and may change an industry. You will never know unless you try.

If you still have a box to think outside of, rip it down, toss it aside and expand your mind. Be open to new possibilities and set a course that is uncharted.

It’s a heck of a lot more fun than spending the rest of your career and life walled off from life’s possibilities.

Pat Perry is ERC’s chairman and author of “Re-Shape Re-Define ReImagine.”