An old friend who once saved your life. 9 Dots 4 Lines. Disproportionate pay increases between executives and their employees remains a much discussed topic in the media [1] and around office water coolers everywhere. Many on my team have expressed to me their appreciation for this gesture. If they are leading with a global mindset, their offices are vacant for a good portion of time and this precious office real estate is often unused. For example, I have a 6-seat conference table, wireless speaker phone, ceiling mounted projector, retractable projection screen and oversized whiteboard in my office. Is it possible to successfully lead in an unconventional, unorthodox, uncommon or unpredictable way? He would routinely cover 3-6 countries in a single trip. Lateral thinking puzzles involve solving problems through an indirect and creative approach, using reasoning that is not immediately obvious, thinking out of the box and involving ideas that may not be obtainable by using only traditional step-by-step logic. Thank you for reading my post. This made sense to me, and since that day, I have tried to follow Jill’s approach. Your pay raise this year: 3%, but the CEO's? 1. The search for different ways of looking at things. 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In the simplest form, it is a metaphor for thinking beyond your norm, or differently than you ordinarily would – for instance, in an unconventional, unorthodox, uncommon, or unpredictable way. Lateral thinking is solving problems by an indirect and creative approach, typically through viewing the problem in a new and unusual light. Customers want high standards of service. Jim would often conduct town hall meetings with employees and/or go on customer visits. What careers use lateral thinking? Everyday he gets the elevator down to the ground... (2) A man and his son are in a car accident. Your team will recognize and respect you for doing so. Do things that are uncommon and unpredictable, but positive. More often than not, bosses require their direct reports to come to them for meetings. Be nonconventional when leading your team. Here are some examples of lateral thinking career choices: Advertising. If she spent time doing things that others could do, then she would not have time to do the things only she could do. Four Examples of "Outside the Box" Leadership is the ninth post in the Explaining Leadership series from Dr. Michael Edwards. Jill, a Business Unit leader who reported to my company’s CEO, delegated everything. It helps them deliver results. Jill "led outside the box.". 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Most real-life problems – especially ones involving other people – call for a creative approach and some lateral thinking. To close, these are just four examples of unconventional, unorthodox, uncommon and unpredictable actions directed towards their teams by leaders. These examples show very clearly it is in need possible to "lead outside the box.”, Many managers of people are way too hands on. I travel 50% of the time. Lateral thinking is a useful skill whatever job you end up doing, but there are some career paths where it can really come in handy. Unless referring to “rebel” personalities whose passion in life is to march to the beat of their own drum, qualities such as unconventional, unorthodox, uncommon, or unpredictable are rarely associated with good leadership… until now! The application of "thinking outside the box” to problem solving is common and clear; but what about its application to leadership? Lateral thinking, remember, is moving away from the usual logic and linear line of reasoning. I once had another Business Unit leader, call him Jim (not his real name) who did things a bit differently. People who work in advertising use this type of thinking to persuade us to buy products. Jill’s approach of “delegating everything” was unconventional. My point is this; if "thinking outside the box" provides an advantage in solving challenging problems, then "leading outside the box" provides a similar advantage when leading a team of people. A lateral thinking technique we can use is to write down all the dominant ideas that apply in our situation and then to deliberately challenge them. The leader who "leads outside the box" will do the unthinkable as leaders go – he will allow his team to use his vacant prime office real estate when he is absent. (2015, April 15). Lateral and creative thinking examples "Think of yourself as being like a tradesman ... ineffective without tools at the ready" The following examples are ALL real: The "lecturing atheist" example Lateral thinking/creative tool in play: ALTERNATIVE PERSPECTIVE A very elderly gentleman was on the receiving end of a rather "heated" lecture from a well-dressed young… It helps them get things done. Is it possible to "lead outside the box?". So for example the major airlines used to work with these beliefs: Customers want high standards of service.