We all want to be able to generate novel ideas for research, but we seem to ignore the fact that 'thinking outside the box' is a skill that requires practice. In the last five years or so, we have had to deal with events that resulted from prior government leadership, the coronavirus pandemic, and witnessing the abuses and murders of Black people. While I can expound on the long-term effects of these events, I want to center the act of doing research.
Thus, my question is:
What practical steps can we take to practice "thinking outside the box" in our labs, departments, institutions, etc?
Hello, thinking outside the box or in other words getting out of the comfort zone is one of the important things that a person should try in his life to be a special person in his ideas. Successful people are the ones who got out of the comfort zone and learned through experiences. Learning from failure is the basis for success and excellence.
Great question, Carlene! Here are some practical steps you can take to practice "thinking outside the box" in your research:
1. Diversify your sources of inspiration: Instead of relying solely on your academic field, seek inspiration from other areas of study, industries, or even hobbies that interest you. Attend interdisciplinary conferences and seminars, read books and articles from different fields, and engage with people from different backgrounds.
2. Foster a culture of innovation: Encourage your colleagues to share their unconventional ideas and perspectives. Create a safe space for brainstorming and experimentation, where failure is seen as a necessary step towards progress.
3. Use creative thinking techniques: Practice techniques like brainstorming, mind mapping, and reverse thinking to break free from your usual thought patterns. Challenge assumptions, ask "what if" questions, and look for alternative solutions.
4. Collaborate with diverse groups: Seek out collaborations with researchers and practitioners from different disciplines, cultural backgrounds, and perspectives. This can lead to innovative approaches to research questions.
5. Take risks: Don't be afraid to take risks and try something new. Embrace the possibility of failure as a learning experience and an opportunity to grow.
Remember, "thinking outside the box" is a skill that can be developed and improved with practice. By incorporating these practical steps into your research process, you can generate novel and innovative ideas for your work.
Practicing "thinking outside the box" is indeed an important skill for generating novel ideas in research. To foster creative thinking and encourage innovative approaches in labs, departments, and institutions, here are some practical steps you can consider:
Remember that nurturing a culture of innovation and creative thinking takes time and sustained effort. By implementing these practical steps, you can create an environment that encourages and supports "thinking outside the box" in research.
Thank Alireza, Carmen, and Zainab, for your responses. Two recurring solutions: seeking external support and creating an environment for successful failures, are severely lacking in academia. Why are we such a bunch of 'know-it-alls'? lol. So many challenges within academia are solvable if they seek collaborations with other sectors. Sigh. We are destined to repeat our failures while we educate the citizens of the world to be outside-the-box thinkers.
When regular problems exist, the solutions of the majority tend to work best. When unusual situations exist, the solutions of the minority tend to work best. Unfortunately, the majority rule philosophy that tends to be held in democratic systems can become battles for dominant rule, and the rights of individuals become crushed. One solution is to work toward a consensus (supermajority, not necessarily unanimity) although that can take longer.
joke insert:
It is a somber funeral. The eulogy has been given, last rites administered, and now the guests file by for a final farewell. A man is seen whispering into the coffin of his former supervisor, "Alright Murray, now who's thinking outside the box?"
One needed condition for out of the box thinking is the ability to allow one to play with thoughts and concepts that may extend beyond socionormal bounds. This does not mean acting on all such thoughts, but exploring them (mentally for some, verbally for others) in a safe manner. It may be helpful to preface it to others with, "Here comes an out of the box idea" or "Here's a wild one that just popped into mind", etc. A risk to this is having socially inappropriate thoughts expressed that offend others, so there needs to be some filters left in place.
Brian Lee HAHAHA. I needed that laugh. By design, the universe waited until today for me to read your response.
Adults are so fearful of failure that I like the idea of prefacing ideas with sentence stems, as you mentioned, and creating written guidelines that allow for the flowing of ideas. When I moderate DEI-sensitive discussions, I let the audience use "Ouch" and "Oops" responses. “Ouch” is used when someone says something that hurts, and it provides the space to own your feelings. “Oops” is used when your intention did not match your impact, and you genuinely apologize for it. Potentially, in the ideation phase, those 2 words and the prefacing sentence stems may help to reduce fears and create a safe space for all.
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