Leadership by the Box

“Think outside the box.”

The phrase is a tried and true adage, but it’s incomplete. It’s like the cake without the icing. The bagel without the lox. Good enough on its own, but much better together.

It’s that “together” component we’re talking about today. You see, when you constantly think outside the box, you are negating what is inside of the box. Have you ever thought about that? While you’re high off in the clouds, visioneering the future and dreaming of all the things that could be, you are simultaneously missing what is. Worse off, you may be missing who is.

If your head is in the clouds, you’re missing the people on the ground. 

People primarily exist in two planes of existence: the here and now, and the far off future. The hard part is that most leaders would rather choose to be visioneers or future thinkers. The problem is that negates the world around them. It passes off the things that are happening right now, problems, people, leaders beneath them that need training, etc …

If you’re always thinking future, then you’re missing the now. 

Tomorrow has enough worries on its own. Focus on what you can do to help shape the future by putting your time and energy into the people who can help you today.

“Hold up. I’m a leader. I need to plan for the future. I need to have my head in the clouds. If I don’t, then nothing will ever change or grow. I need this.” 

Yes; you do need this. But you do not need to think about the future to the detriment of the now. You cannot sacrifice future success for a current disaster. As a leader, we want to give you a few ways you can think outside of the box in healthy ways, while maintaining a solid footing inside of the box.

1. Plan a yearly visioneering trip. Block out three days in the dessert, lock yourself in an isolated cabin, and dare to dream big dreams.
2. Take your leadership away for a planning weekend. Not only will this refresh them, it will give them an opportunity to buy into the future and take ownership over the process.
3. Constantly preach vision while apply mission. Let your audience know where you are going, but never miss an opportunity to tell them why by showing them what is happening on the ground in the here and now.

Are there more than these three ways to think with your heads in the clouds and your feet on the ground? Sure; absolutely there are. But that is not the point. The point is for you to create space to be the dreamer you were called to be while also continuing to lead where you currently stand.

How will you apply this to your leadership. We’d love to hear your thought. Write a comment below and we can continue the conversation together.