To approach problems or situations in creative, unconventional ways rather than using traditional methods.
Management consultants and creativity experts popularized the phrase in the 1980s and 90s as corporate training became focused on innovation. The puzzle itself demonstrates that our assumptions about boundaries often limit our problem-solving abilities.
Ironically, 'think outside the box' has become such a cliché that using it might actually indicate inside-the-box thinking! Some creativity experts now deliberately avoid the phrase, preferring terms like 'think differently' or 'challenge assumptions' to avoid the corporate buzzword stigma.
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