Coloring inside the lines. Conforming to pre-described ideas and expectations. We’ve been taught how to color inside the lines since we were children as a precursor to fitting in and doing what we are told.
A while ago, I came across a nice blog post about a mother debating whether to teach her daughter how to color inside the lines or let her continue to draw on her own and create.
This post, as well as a Seth Godin post about him wanting to be with people that see and understand things before others, got me thinking about this concept within the workplace. In our jobs, we have varying degrees of latitude to do things creatively or innovatively. But very often, we are stopped before we stray too far from the ‘way things are done here’. This leads to a lot of dissatisfaction as well as a lack of innovation and of meeting customer needs.
As a basketball coach I perpetuate, to a certain degree, the notion of conformity with specific offensive and defensive schemes so that the team knows what to expect and can react appropriately.
As a nature photographer, I conform to certain rules of the craft, but look to bring something outside of what is normally seen upon first glance. Individuals, teams and organizations must have a fundamentally solid base off of which to build in new directions.
With all of this drive for conformity and inside the lines thinking, it’s interesting to note that visionaries are marveled at and even revered. Take Salvador Dali, for instance. People usually love his work or hate it. However, I don’t know of too many people that haven’t been amazed at the power of Dali’s creative mind to come up with such concepts and make them a reality wishing they could have a piece that skill.
Steve Jobs’ creativity and ability to transform multiple industries is another prime example of someone who colored outside the lines and ventured into new space. In the case of Apple, Facebook, Ford and countless others, the picture we use to define our world gets changed to encompass these innovations and make them part of the new normal.
How can you again color outside of the lines and create your own picture, like you did when you were three and didn’t ‘know any better’?
- Commit yourself to thinking creatively and strategically, to coming up with new and fresh ideas.
- Take time to search out instances of abstraction and innovation, such as Dali, and get energized about the possibilities within your own creative genius to color outside of the lines.
- Engage others outside of your company or your immediate sphere with your ideas. If you just discuss your ideas within your company boundaries, you may face fearful criticism of your non-conformist ideas and the ideas may wither on the vine. In my book, I talk about Vikas Narula and how he looks to swim in other fishbowls to experience different people and ideas.
- Advocate to others within your influence to color outside the lines, think freely and engage in their ideas and dreams. This could be your children, relatives, co-workers, anyone.
As more and more people commit to creativity and innovation, it will become the new normal and the possibilities will become endless.