3 REASONS WHY LEADERS SHOULD THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX

As I sit in my office, I’m thinking about what make Leaders and companies successful. Why do a majority of businesses fail and only a few prosper? Why do companies fail to recognize issues early in the process, which eventually put them out of business?

It's simple. It’s because the Leader of the company failed to be different, inspire innovation amongst their team and think outside the box.

Thinking outside the box is “a metaphor that means to think differently, unconventionally, or from a new perspective.” A big reason companies fail is that they become lazy to create new ideas to continue to grow their business. Studies have shown that over 90% of small businesses go out of business within the first 5 years.

Why is that?

Is it because that have a bad business model or poor customer service? Is it because they failed to accumulate enough capital to sustain? These could be true. However, I think it’s the way companies confront issues that could be detrimental to the organization. If your business is failing to reach enough customers to arrive at the much-needed sales, then it’s important for the Leaders to identify to issue and come up with new ways to market and sell. Yes… thinking outside the box is vital.

How Apple’s became successful from thinking outside the box

Back in the late 90s and early 2000s, the Motorola Razr was the top phone in the industry. It was an incredibly thin cell phone with no other features except the ability to make calls

Luckily for us, Apple’s CEO Steve Jobs had a bigger vision of the mobile phone. He had an idea of combining our phones and computer to make an excellent device that we all could enjoy.

The iPhone was not the first smartphone to hit the market. However, it was the first to be accepted by popular culture which was the goal of Steve Jobs. Steve Jobs wanted to revolutionize the way we communicated with others and how we use our cell phones.

Apple reached ultimate success from Steve Jobs thinking outside the box. He was going against the grain and taking a big risk with his idea. If this idea would’ve fail, Apple would’ve suffered a severe impact. But it all worked out. And today, Apple is one of the most recognizable brands and has the most modern cell phone across the globe.

Below are three ways a Leader can improve their company’s performance by thinking outside the box.

1. Be open to new ideas: The most successful companies do things first and do things right. As a Leader, you should foster a company culture of inspiration and creativity. A Leader should always be looking for the next great idea to bring to the market. You should always support the team and encourage them to bring new ideas forward.

2. Open to trying new things: Don’t be quick to say no when approached with a new idea. If it sounds reasonable and sparks your interest, try it. This idea may be the one idea that launches your company into a great success.

3. Push your boundaries and never set limits: I remember my pastor telling us in service, “If you tell someone your dreams and they don’t laugh, you’re not dreaming big enough… dream big.” This concept goes along with pushing your boundaries. Set your goals high and never look back. You can do the impossible.

Take Away

In the Bible 1 Thessalonians 5:11 states, “Therefore, encourage on another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” A great Leader is always inspiring others to grow to their fullest potential and building them up. Have trust in your people. Being open minded and acceptable to new ideas would be beneficial to your companies and employees. Being open minded is a great way to gain new ideas and create a “Think outside the box” culture that would promote creativity and trust. No person can rely on his/her abilities.

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