NICK WRIGHT
  • Home
  • About
  • Services
  • Testimonials
  • Articles
    • Organisations and leadership
    • Learning and development
    • Coaching and counselling
  • Blog
  • e-Resources
  • News
  • Contact
  • Home
  • About
  • Services
  • Testimonials
  • Articles
    • Organisations and leadership
    • Learning and development
    • Coaching and counselling
  • Blog
  • e-Resources
  • News
  • Contact

Boxes

29/7/2019

40 Comments

 
Picture

Thinking out of the box sounds good in principle yet can be difficult to do in practice. What if, say, you are the box, or you don’t know you’re in a box, or you can’t see the box? What if others you’re working with are in boxes, or don’t know they’re in boxes, or want to put you in a box, or don’t like your box? I was asked once to coach and mentor an HR colleague who needed to learn to think outside of the box. I asked for clarification. It turns out they meant that she lacked, yet needed, strategic thinking and systems thinking for her role. She looked at me blankly. She couldn’t see what she couldn’t see.

I wondered how to enable her to make a shift to conceptual (‘strategic’, ‘systemic’) from practical; to abstract ideas from concrete examples that she could work with and learn from. She described herself as a detail person, trained to spot the critical points in the micro, e.g. salary spreadsheets so that reports were accurate and errors were avoided. I decided, therefore, to start with an example in the micro and to work out from there to a wider macro. This, I hoped, would gradually bring wider systemic and strategic issues and perspectives into view and highlight the links between them.

I invited her to bring an example from her work. She chose an email from a client in her business partner role. It raised a query about how to deal with a performance issue in his team. She had been about to respond to the email with advice on performance management policies and procedures. I invited her to draw a small box on a large, blank sheet of paper and to draw the person inside the box who was to be performance managed. I then invited her to draw a larger box outside of that box and to draw anyone or anything in that box that could be influencing the person’s performance.

As she considered this, various issues and key people came to mind. She wrote them in the box. I asked, ‘What might these different stakeholders hope you will take into account in addressing this?’ She jotted down those thoughts too. I then invited her to draw an even larger box around that one…and repeated the process until we had reached external stakeholders, opportunities and risks and future horizons. At each stage, she was able to consider significant questions and intervention options. It brought a wider picture into view so that she could see it. How do you deal with boxes?

Do you need help with thinking out of the box? Get in touch! info@nick-wright.com
40 Comments
Hannah
29/7/2019 07:04:05 pm

I like that way of drawing it out so you can see the bigger picture! I might try that approach out the next time the challenges in my life seem too overwhelming!

Reply
Nick Wright
29/7/2019 07:08:52 pm

Thanks Hannah. Yes, this type of technique can help us to see people and issues in very different perspective.

Reply
Lilin
30/7/2019 10:23:43 am

Most people are in their imaginary boxes and don’t realise it. Your example is good but can he do it himself? Habit of a lifetime, past experiences, personality, upbringing, etc all helped to shape the box(es).
And all depends on how sturdy are the boxes🤣 Can you get them to open a little window to peep outside?

Reply
Nick Wright
30/7/2019 10:40:52 am

Hi Lilin. Those are great questions. In my experience, people are able to grow in personal, relational and situational awareness when prompted and enabled to reflect critically through, say, coaching.

However, in the example cited here, the client may also need to do some research, firstly to discover and learn that which he/she couldn't do through critical reflection alone and, secondly, to test out his/her tentative hypotheses.

I like your metaphor of opening a little window to peep outside. For some people, that's a great place to start. Others would prefer to throw themselves out of the window or to get rid of the window (and the box) altogether! :)

Reply
Gwen Griffith
30/7/2019 12:38:24 pm

Love it!!

Never used “boxes”, have used circles (of influence). Thanks

Gwen

Reply
Nick Wright
30/7/2019 12:42:07 pm

Thanks Gwen! Yes, circles of influence is another great tool. I also really like Argyris & Schön's double and triple loop learning. Are you familiar with it?

Reply
Gwen Griffith
30/7/2019 04:52:21 pm

No, I don’t know it.

Nick Wright
30/7/2019 04:53:35 pm

Hi Gwen. Here’s a link to a short into article that you may find interesting? https://www.mikethementor.co.uk/blog/2018/4/4/single-double-and-triple-loop-change

John Brennan
30/7/2019 04:11:00 pm

Does a box make me feel claustrophobic or protected? It depends on the size of the box in which I am stuck, or which I build around other people. Do I need a small box that gives me security? Or is the box around me too tall so that I can’t see out of it, over the top, which scares me?

Reply
Nick Wright
30/7/2019 04:12:49 pm

Hi John. Interesting reflections. You have reminded me of John Bowlby’s ‘secure base’ phenomenon. Are you familiar with it?

Reply
Lollo Mofolo
31/7/2019 06:26:21 pm

All of it! The more things change, the more they stay the same! 🙃

Reply
Nick Wright
31/7/2019 06:27:52 pm

Hi Lollo. Aaah...plus ça change plus c'est la même chose!

Reply
Lollo Mofolo
31/7/2019 06:41:58 pm

Nick, hahaha never heard that one, love it ✅

Nick Wright
31/7/2019 06:45:06 pm

Hi Lollo. I only know if from the song, 'Circumstances' by Rush: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZOgc8CgWUU :)

E.G.Sebastian - CPC, CSL
1/8/2019 12:27:11 pm

Ah..., mon fraire, Nick, tu parle francais!??

Nick Wright
1/8/2019 12:28:02 pm

Hi E.G. Yep - all 8 words of it. :)

Robin Sawan
1/8/2019 12:10:25 pm

Why the box in the first place? As you rightly said, "Thinking out of the box sounds good in principle yet can be difficult to do in practice." The moment you say 'think out of the box', you may be putting a boundary on the other person's thinking and she/he will now desperately struggle to get out of the box. This person may start arguing, become defensive about their point of view, walkout or just give up. Instead what if you said 'How else can it be done? What else can be done? Who else can help? How can we do it differently?' This might allow the other person to get out of the brain freeze mode, attack/defend mode, struggle mode & start thinking beyond where they stopped.

Maybe there is no box. I suspect that the person who says 'think out of the box' might herself/himself be stuck in the box.

Reply
Nick Wright
1/8/2019 12:13:36 pm

Hi Robin. That's a fair challenge and shows the power of language! 'Maybe there is no box' is an interesting idea. If we work from a social constructionist perspective, we could say - paradoxically - that there are no boxes and that everything is boxes; depending on how we conceive the idea of 'box'.

Reply
E.G.Sebastian - CPC, CSL
1/8/2019 12:15:10 pm

Wow, Nick, you just blew my box! :)

I believe, whether we see it or not, we are all in a box. Our upbringing alone and our beliefs that we picked up along the way, firmly secure us in a box. The question is, am I happy in my box? Do I feel like I'm living my purpose - I'm having fun - I'm doing what I LOVE to do in my box... Am I satisfied, or am I stressed, frustrated... do I feel like my box limits me? If yes, yes, TRY to think outside of the box... which as you well state it in the article, it's hard to do.

Was it Einstein who said that you can't solve a problem with the mind that created it? I think same applies to the "box" - it's hard to think outside of it, while you are in it :)

That's why it's so helpful to have a coach; or belong to a mastermind group where you can ask for "outsiders" (pun intended) to give you their perspective.

Reply
Nick Wright
1/8/2019 12:25:34 pm

Thanks E.G. You made me laugh - as usual! :) As I read your comments, I became aware of how, sometimes, working as a coach with clients to enable them to see, examine, perhaps dismantle or reconstruct their boxes can leave them, at least initially, feeling less happy than they were originally inside their box. It's an 'ignorance is bliss' phenomenon. I touched on this in a short related piece that you may find interesting. It received an astonishing number of responses! http://www.nick-wright.com/blog/head-in-the-sand

Reply
E.G.Sebastian - CPC, CSL
1/8/2019 07:28:05 pm

I always say that God put me on this earth to put a smile on people's faces. This day starts yet again with me being on purpose :)
....
Yes... "... can leave them, at least initially, feeling less happy " OR can have a sense of freedom and (initial) elation, feeling like "I can finally breath" (as their original "box" was feeling more restricting)... and for some this newly found freedom can be maintained and built on (especially if they work with a good coach); and others slip back into their "tidy" box that was built on well-ingrained beliefs and habits.

Nick Wright
1/8/2019 07:30:08 pm

Hi E.G. That's a great reason to be on this earth. :) Yes, exploring boxes with a client can be a liberating experience that can open up all sorts of fresh possibilities.

Ather Alam Khan
1/8/2019 07:25:30 pm

Think, there is no box.

Reply
Nick Wright
1/8/2019 07:26:18 pm

Hi Ather. That can be an interesting proposition. No limits.

Reply
Ather Alam Khan
2/8/2019 10:30:18 am

Hi Nick, what I believe this is the only proposition. I always think why should I limit myself only by thinking out of the box.

Nick Wright
2/8/2019 10:34:36 am

Hi Ather. I like your almost-paradoxical-sounding idea that 'thinking out of the box' is too limited. You may find this related short piece interesting: http://www.nick-wright.com/blog/deconstructing-the-box

Ather Alam Khan
2/8/2019 11:15:52 am

"Deconstructing the box entails a willingness to acknowledge it first – to explore and reveal the unspoken, the unspeakable, the not-yet imagined"
This is the key takeaway!!!

Nick Wright
2/8/2019 11:16:50 am

😀

Michael Harreld, MDiv. B.A.
2/8/2019 12:37:22 am

Good visual practice example you share here.

Reply
Nick Wright
2/8/2019 12:38:11 am

Hi Michael. Thanks for the encouraging feedback!

Reply
Patrick Trottier
2/8/2019 04:21:45 pm

Maybe one is NOT in a box, they only think they are in a box because someone told them they were in a box... like an OD consultatnt. Summary; create something different. Move from the box of being in a box (problem / analytical based) to an 'act of creation'. The questions, although interesting, will certainly reinforce the box - because one would spend all their time answering those questions, and being so 'smart' - rather than just spend one's energy on 'creating comething' ... the concept of being in a box, is, in itself - a box... the end.

Reply
Nick Wright
2/8/2019 04:29:52 pm

Hi Patrick. As I read your note, the image of a hall or mirrors came to mind...so that, for instance, the concept that the concept of being in a box is a box...and it can go in indefinitely.

When we say that, maybe, someone is not in a box but they only think they are, insights from psychodynamics (e.g. introjection) and Gestalt (e.g. fixed Gestalt) also come to mind.

I like the act of creating something. It carries less of a sense of being stuck and more of a sense of freedom - at least for me. Whatever we create will, however, have its own boundaries too.

On the idea of deconstructing the box, you may find this related short piece interesting? http://www.nick-wright.com/blog/deconstructing-the-box

Reply
Patrick Trottier
3/8/2019 01:02:52 pm

Hi Nick - I'm enjoying the conversation... one thought to add to your note in reply to my comment about 'being in a box (problem / analytical based) vs to manifest an 'act of creation':

Your comment - re: "I like the act of creating something. It carries less of a sense of being stuck and more of a sense of freedom - at least for me. ***Whatever we create will, however, have its own boundaries too.***"

To this last sentence, I say - not if one understands the dynamics of Emergent Change®.

"“Emergent change is based on the shaping of continuous ‘forms’ by internal and external influencing patterns and determinates. That which emerges may be further shaped into further continually evolving patterns.” (P. Trottier, 1995)

All the best... Patrick A. Trottier

Nick Wright
3/8/2019 01:10:25 pm

Hi Patrick. Thanks for further thoughts and challenge. I do have some understanding of the dynamics of emergent change. I could say too, however, that my understanding is subject to 'shaping of continuous ‘forms’ by internal and external influencing patterns and determinates.' :)

We may be dealing with semantics here...but we could say, for instance, that the notion of 'emergent change' and all that falls within it represents a box, or a boundary, that distinguishes it from other concepts, models etc. of change. Whenever we use language, we inescapably express and, at times, reinforce the box.

Two of the boxes that influence my own thinking box here are social constructionism and Gestalt. Are you familiar with them?

Patrick Trottier
3/8/2019 02:26:55 pm

Yes, I am familiar with both. I was a student of Gestalt. I integrate much into my work. I am a student of social constructionism... the manifestation of social and individual beliefs, meaning, assumptions and perceptions, etc. and the consequences of such...

All are a continuous and a constant (vs. 'a constant') emergence process... emergence itself has no boundaries being an open system... the boudaries that we create in an 'emergent process' are only those we assume and define and give words to, etc - as such, such is not 'emergence'...

Nick Wright
3/8/2019 02:42:35 pm

Hi Patrick. I'm trying to decide if this conversation itself is emergent...or if we are each trapped in our respective boxes...or a bit of both...or something else..?! :)

Michelle Ellis
2/8/2019 10:51:45 pm

Simplicity at its best!

Reply
Nick Wright
2/8/2019 10:52:21 pm

Thanks Michelle. Simple...but not always easy!

Reply
Julie Holly
2/8/2019 10:53:25 pm

I like how you took an abstract idea and made it concrete for your client.

Reply
Nick Wright
2/8/2019 10:57:45 pm

Thanks Julie. Yes, it seemed to work well in that instance.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    ​Nick Wright

    ​I'm a psychological coach, trainer and OD consultant. Curious to discover how can I help you? ​Get in touch!

    Picture
    Like what you read? Simply enter your email address below to receive regular blog updates!
    Subscribe to Blog
    Picture
    Picture


    ​Archives

    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011

    Categories

    All
    Abc
    Ability
    Accountability
    Achievement
    Act
    Action
    Action Learning
    Activism
    Adaptability
    Adaptive
    Advent
    Adventure
    Africa
    Agency
    Agile
    Ambiguity
    Angle
    Anticipation
    Anxiety
    Appraisal
    Appreciation
    Appreciative
    Appreciative Inquiry
    Approach
    Argyris
    Asia
    Assumption
    Assumptions
    Asylum
    Attachment
    Attention
    Attitude
    Audience
    Authenticity
    Authority
    Autonomy
    Avoidance
    Awareness
    Behaviour
    Being
    Belief
    Beliefs
    Bias
    Bible
    Body Language
    Boundaries
    Brainstorming
    Brand
    Calling
    Care
    Career
    Censorship
    Challenge
    Change
    Character
    Charity
    Child
    Choice
    Choose
    Christ
    Christian
    Christmas
    Clarity
    Client
    Climate
    Coach
    Coaching
    Coactive
    Cognition
    Cognitive
    Cognitive Behavioural
    Commitment
    Communication
    Community
    Compassion
    Competence
    Competencies
    Complexity
    Concepts
    Confidence
    Conflict
    Confluence
    Congruence
    Consciousness
    Construct
    Constructs
    Construe
    Consultancy
    Contact
    Content
    Context
    Contracting
    Contribution
    Control
    Conversation
    Corruption
    Counselling
    Counterintiution
    Counterintuition
    Countertransference
    Courage
    Craziness
    Creativity
    Credibility
    Crisis
    Critical Consciousness
    Critical Reflection
    Critical Reflective Practice
    Critical Reflexivity
    Critical Thinking
    Critique
    Cross
    Cross Culture
    Cross-culture
    Culture
    Curiosity
    Customer Care
    Customers
    Customer Service
    Death
    Deception
    Decision
    Deconstruction
    Defence
    Defences
    Deferred Gratification
    Definition
    Delusion
    Democracy
    Depression
    Determination
    Development
    Deviance
    Deviant
    Diagnosis
    Disaster
    Discernment
    Disclosure
    Discovery
    Discrimination
    Disruptive
    Dissent
    Dissident
    Dissonance
    Distinctiveness
    Distortion
    Diversity
    Dream
    Dynamic
    Dynamics
    Easter
    Ecology
    Edge
    Edi
    Education
    Effectiveness
    Efficiency
    Ego State
    Eliciting
    Emergence
    Emotion
    Emotional
    Emotional Intelligence
    Empathy
    Empowerment
    Encouragement
    Energy
    Engagement
    Environment
    Equality
    Eternity
    Ethics
    Ethiopia
    Evaluation
    Evidence
    Evocative
    Existential
    Existentialism
    Expectation
    Expectations
    Experience
    Experiment
    Experimentation
    Exploration
    Explore
    Exposure
    Facilitation
    Faith
    Fear
    Feedback
    Feeling
    Feminism
    Figure
    Filter
    Fit
    Flashback
    Focus
    Forgiveness
    Framework
    Freedom
    Freud
    Fun
    Future
    Gender
    Geopolitical
    Geopolitics
    Germany
    Gestalt
    Global
    Goal
    Goals
    God
    Gospel
    Grace
    Grief
    Grit
    Ground
    Group
    Guidance
    Healing
    Health
    Hear
    Heidegger
    Hero
    Home
    Hope
    Human
    Human Givens
    Humanity
    Human Resources
    Human Rights
    Humility
    Humour
    Hybrid
    Hypotheses
    Hypothesis
    Icon
    Ideation
    Identity
    Image
    Imagination
    Impact
    Impostor
    Inclusion
    Independence
    Influence
    INGO
    Initiative
    Injustice
    Innovation
    Inquiry
    Insecurity
    Insight
    Inspiration
    Instinct
    Integrity
    Intention
    Interdependence
    Interference
    International
    Interpretation
    Intersectionality
    Intimacy
    Introversion
    Intuition
    Invisible
    Invitation
    Jargon
    Jesus
    Journey
    Jungle
    Justice
    Keys
    Knowing
    Knowledge
    Labels
    Language
    Lateral Thinking
    Leader
    Leadership
    Learner
    Learning
    Lesson
    Liberal
    Life
    Light
    Listening
    Logic
    Loss
    Love
    Management
    Manager
    Marathon
    Matrix
    Mbti
    Meaning
    Media
    Mediation
    Meetings
    Memory
    Mentoring
    Merit
    Metaphor
    Metaphysic
    Mindfulness
    Miracle
    Mirroring
    Misfit
    Mission
    Mode
    Montessori
    Morality
    Motivation
    Music
    Mystery
    Narrative
    Nazis
    Need
    Negotiation
    Neo-Nazi
    Networking
    News
    New Year
    Norm
    Norms
    Noticing
    Online
    Operations
    Opportunity
    Oppression
    Options
    Organisation
    Organisation Develoment
    Organisation Development
    Origin
    Pace
    Panic
    Paradigm
    Paradox
    Partnership
    Passion
    Pastoral
    Pattern Matching
    Peace
    People
    Perception
    Perfectionism
    Performance
    Perseverance
    Personal Constructs
    Personal Leadership
    Person Centred
    Perspective
    Phenomenology
    Phenomenon
    Philippines
    Philosophy
    Physicality
    Plan
    Plans
    Plato
    Play
    Plot
    Polarity
    Policy
    Politics
    Poor
    Positive
    Positive Psychology
    Posture
    Potential
    Potential#
    Poverty
    Power
    Practice
    Pragmatism
    Praxis
    Prayer
    Preference
    Preferences
    Prepare
    Presence
    Presentation
    Principles
    Priorities
    Priority
    Privilege
    Proactivity
    Problem Solving
    Process
    Professional
    Progressive
    Projection
    Projects
    Prompt
    Propaganda
    Protection
    Protest
    Providence
    Provocative
    Psychoanalysis
    Psychodynamic
    Psychodynamics
    Psychology
    Psychometrics
    Psychotherapy
    Purpose
    Quality
    Questions
    Race
    Radical
    Rational
    Rationale
    Rationalisation
    Rationality
    Reality
    Reason
    Reasoning
    Reconciliation
    Recruitment
    Reflect
    Reflection
    Reflective Practice
    Reflexivity
    Reframing
    Refugee
    Refugees
    Relationship
    Relationships
    Release
    Religion
    Representation
    Rescue
    Research
    Resilience
    Resonance
    Resourcefulness
    Respect
    Responsibility
    Responsive
    Responsiveness
    Revelation
    Reward
    Rights
    Risk
    Role
    Role Model
    Rosabeth Moss-kanter
    Rules
    Sabbath
    Satire
    Satnav
    Saviour
    Schemata
    School
    Science
    Secure Base
    Security
    See
    Selection
    Selective Attention
    Self
    Sense Making
    Senses
    Sensitivity
    Serendipity
    Servant
    Shadow
    Significance
    Silence
    Simplicity
    Sin
    Skills
    Snake
    Social Construct
    Social Construction
    Social Constructionism
    Social Media
    Social Psychology
    Socrates
    Solution Focused
    Solutions
    Solutions Focus
    Solutions-focus
    Song
    Space
    Speed
    Spirit
    Spiritual
    Spirituality
    Stance
    Stealth
    Stereotype
    Stereotypes
    Story
    Strategic
    Strategy
    Strengths
    Stress
    Stretch
    Structure
    Struggle
    Stuck
    Student
    Style
    Subconscious
    Subjectivity
    Success
    Suffering
    Supervision
    Support
    Survival
    Sustainability
    Symbol
    Symbolism
    Systems
    Systems Thinking
    TA
    Tactical
    Tactics
    Talent
    Teacher
    Teaching
    Team
    Teamwork
    Teenage
    Theology
    Theory
    Therapy
    Thinking
    Thought
    Time
    Touch
    Toys
    Traction
    Trade
    Trade Union
    Tradition
    Training
    Transactional Analysis
    Transference
    Transformation
    Transition
    Transitional Object
    Trauma
    Trust
    Truth
    Uncertainty
    Unexpected
    Vallues
    Value
    Valued
    Values
    Violence
    Visibility
    Vision
    Voice
    VUCA
    Vulnerability
    Vulnerable
    Waiting
    War
    Wealth
    Weird
    Wellbeing
    Will
    Willingness
    Window
    Wisdom
    Wonder
    Words
    World
    Worth
    Youth
    Zoom

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Home
  • About
  • Services
  • Testimonials
  • Articles
    • Organisations and leadership
    • Learning and development
    • Coaching and counselling
  • Blog
  • e-Resources
  • News
  • Contact