My boss said to think outside the box. I work in a cubicle.
Thinking outside the box is one of corporate America's favorite expressions. It's usually delivered by someone sitting in a private office to someone sitting inside three fabric-covered walls.
Management wants fresh ideas, creative solutions, and employees willing to challenge conventional thinking. Preferably without challenging management.
The office cubicle is an interesting place to encourage innovation. There's barely enough room to turn around, but apparently unlimited room for imagination. Add a motivational poster, a company laptop, and a quarterly performance review, and creativity should practically take care of itself.
In The Purpose of the Meeting, technology joins the search for a reason everyone was invited. Meanwhile, Meetings vs. Emails Explained demonstrates how a simple message can become an hour-long exercise in corporate collaboration.
We've developed sophisticated workplace technology, artificial intelligence, and software designed to make employees more productive. Yet somehow the most innovative idea at the office is still leaving early on Friday.
Maybe thinking outside the box isn't really about creativity. Maybe it's about recognizing that the box was somebody else's idea.
Explore more Chad Geepeety™ cartoons about office humor, workplace technology, corporate management, and the everyday absurdities of modern business.
