Think outside the box.
It’s one of the most widely used phrases in business, education, and creative problem-solving.
It sounds inspirational — even revolutionary.
But despite its popularity, this phrase may now be doing more harm than good.
Here’s why — and what we can replace it with.
The Problem with the phrase ‘Think Outside the Box
There are two key problems with this idea.
a. There’s no clear method.
Thinking outside the box is abstract.
People hear it, but they don’t know how to do it.
It offers no guidance, no process, no switch to pull.
It becomes a vague ideal rather than a practical strategy.
I once worked with a leader who would wander around asking his team for some outside the box ideas and when these were not forthcoming he became very frustrated.
I suggested that it was not because they team did not want to, they simply did not know how to think outside the box.
b. You’re still stuck thinking about the box.
The phrase itself anchors your thinking to the box — even as you try to move beyond it.
It’s like saying, “Don’t think of an elephant.”
This is George Lakoff’s fascinating insight in his book of the same name (2004).
Your brain immediately does just that.
You cannot but think of an elephant.
This is a cognitive trap.
You believe you’re exploring new territory, but the box still shapes your mental boundaries.
Your reference point is still confinement.
Your focus is still what you’re trying to escape.
Enter Ball Mode: A Whole New Shape of Thinking
In Switch Thinking, I propose something different:
I suggest switching from Box Mode to Ball Mode.
Box Mode is structured, focused, analytical.
It’s where you plan, evaluate, organize, and execute.
It’s essential — but it has limits.
Ball Mode by comparison is fluid, playful, and expansive.
It rolls in unexpected directions.
It activates imagination, intuition, and emotion.
It’s where creativity flourishes.
Ball Mode isn’t just “outside the box.”
It’s not a box at all.
It’s a different shape of mind.
When you switch into Ball Mode, you don’t just escape constraint — you enter a completely different mental environment.
And the key?
You can switch back and forth between modes.
That’s where the magic happens.
The Power of the Switch
Unlike traditional creativity tools, Switch Thinking is dynamic.
You can start in Box Mode — define the problem, clarify the goal.
Then you switch to Ball Mode — explore wild ideas, make surprising connections, ask “what if?”
Then, you can switch back — evaluate, test, refine.
You’re not escaping the box.
You’re moving between modes of mind.
This dynamic switching mirrors what neuroscientists now call flexible network activation — the ability to shift between structured (CEN) and imaginative (DMN) brain networks.
This is what predicts true creative ability.
Why “Outside the Box” Is Outdated
The metaphor of the box — and escaping it — reinforces a dualistic view:
- You’re either inside or outside.
- You’re either limited or limitless.
But the real power comes from movement, not escape.
From switching, not fleeing.
From being able to choose your thinking mode — when and how you need it.
“Outside the box” keeps the box in the conversation.
Switch Thinking puts you in control — and makes change as easy as flipping a mental switch.
What to Use Instead
Rather than telling people to “think outside the box,” try:
- For 2 minutes lets Switch into Ball Mode.
- Why do we try switching our perspective.”
- “Lets switch that question around, what happens?
- What is we switch our focus — and see what’s possible.
It’s faster.
It’s more fun.
And it’s grounded in neuroscience and everyday experience.
And can be used with AI with ease e.g. Can you give me 3 ball mode perspectives on this problem?
Final Thought
Thinking outside the box is an inspiring idea whose time has passed.
We now need something more practical, more empowering, and more dynamic.
Switch Thinking gives you the ability to change the way you think, feel, and create — in the moment, and in motion.
It invites you to dance between structure and imagination, logic and play, the familiar and the new.
Because sometimes, the best ideas don’t just come from outside the box.
They come from switching modes entirely.