Ok, nowadays ‘thinking outside the box’ is cliche. We’ve heard it so much we have either forgotten the idea or written it off. The problem is that psychologists tell us we all have these personal paradigms that drive our reation and interaction with culture and society. The older we get, the more “Set in our ways” we become. This is the perfect example of operating from within a very narrow box.
I recently challenged my group of job seekers to begin the discipline of thinking truly outside your box. Here’s what we mean.
As you meet a new person, strive to understand their “box” first. Forget your bad ideas and limited scope. Hear them genuinely and seek first to understand (ala Steven Covey). You just cannot build a high trust relationship without it. This fits for hiring managers, sales leads, new friends, and other personal relationships.
Give yourself a test. Try this for just one full week. See the amazing things that can happen. Post back here and let me know what you find.
