The Daily Stat: Thinking "Outside the Box" Is More than Just a Metaphor

Are you having trouble viewing this email? If so, click here to see it in a web browser. HOME   |   BLOGS   |   THE MAGAZINE   |   BOOKS   |   AUTHORS   |   STORE RSS   |   Mobile APRIL 23, 2013 Thinking "Outside the Box" Is More than Just a Metaphor In a study of the physical embodiment of metaphors, people who literally sat "outside the box"—a box made of cardboard and plastic pipe—generated 32% more correct answers to a test that repeatedly asked them to think of a word that related to three given words, says a team led by Angela K.-y. Leung of Singapore Management University. Elimination of other potentially confounding factors led the researchers to conclude that the difference was indeed due to the creativity-fostering effects of thinking outside the box, a metaphor that is more than merely metaphorical. Source: Embodied Metaphors and Creative "Acts" Share Today's Stat: FEATURED PRODUCT Work Smarter with Twitter and HootSuite Ebook Now Available In Work Smarter with Twitter and HootSuite, social media expert Alexandra Samuel helps you take Twitter to the next level by using the free tool HootSuite, which allows you to focus on the people whose tweets matter to you and easily establish the relationships and presence you want.This short, practical book shows you the most effective ways to use this popular system to focus on the people and relationships that are the most important to you, track tweets that matter, keep your Twitter stream free of clutter and much more. ADVERTISEMENT Follow the Stat: BEST SELLERS HBR Guide to Persuasive Presentations Ebook + Video Case Study HBR's 10 Must Reads on Leadership HBR's 10 Must Reads on Managing Yourself HBR's 10 Must Reads: The Essentials HBR Guide to Getting the Right Work Done PREVIOUS STATS Why Women Shun Business: It May Be About the Ethical Compromises Being Sad Makes You More Impatient Why Incentives Can Demotivate Employees Make Customers Happier by Helping Them Accept Their Decisions Scary-Smart People Really Do Accomplish a Lot If You're Prone to Distractions, Mindfulness Training Can Help Every Conference You Attend Generates New Jobs Choosing a Beautiful Product Makes You a More Open Person You'll Save More if All Your Money Is in One Account Why Candies in Tiny Packages Are Especially Tempting Introducing Mobile ManageMentor Powered by the proven content of Harvard ManageMentor™ iTunes >> Android >> UNSUBSCRIBE   |   UPDATE YOUR PROFILE   |   MORE EMAIL NEWSLETTERS   |   PRIVACY POLICY Was this email forwarded to you? If so, sign up to start receiving your own copy. ABOUT THIS MAILING LIST You have received this message because you subscribed to the "The Daily Stat" email newsletter from Harvard Business Review. If at any point you wish to remove yourself from this list, change your email address, or sign up for other email newsletters and alerts, please visit the Harvard Business Review Email Newsletter Preference Center. OPT OUT If you do not wish to receive any email messages from Harvard Business Review, click here. ADVERTISE WITH HBR This enewsletter is read by thousands of decision makers every day. Learn more about connecting your brand with this audience. Copyright © 2013 Harvard Business School Publishing, an affiliate of Harvard Business School. All rights reserved. Harvard Business Publishing | 60 Harvard Way | Boston, MA 02163 Customer Service: 800-545-7685 (+1-617-783-7600 outside the U.S. and Canada)