Out of the Box Lessons on Leadership

My LinkedIn feed is an endless stream of motivational career stories, humblebrags from people I don’t remember connecting with, and groundbreaking insights from the unlikeliest sources. On a recent visit, I came across a post titled, “5 Leadership Lessons from Eagles,” which, as a budding bird enthusiast, beaked my interest.

Like me, thousands of others had flocked to this carefully curated list of avian acumen, seeking the elusive wisdom of a bird, that, left to its own devices, would want nothing more than to gouge out your eyeballs and feast on your entrails. But it is a common trait of man, and of men in general, to turn to nature’s apex predators when looking for ways to deal with subordinates at the workplace.

While it may be fair to extract learnings from the planet’s most impressive creatures, I’ve come to realize that the marketplace of ideas on the corporate social networks of our time lacks more relatable stories—the inspiration that can come to us from the commonplace, everyday things in our lives — those that don’t involve eating carrion for breakfast.

I decided to change this. After months of observations in the field, a multi-region quant analysis (whatever that is), and a series of eye-opening conversations with experts on the subject, I’d like to present to you my distillation of “5 Leadership Lessons from Cardboard Boxes.”

📦 Cardboard boxes are adaptable and versatile

They can be used for a variety of purposes; from transporting a microSD card surrounded by 60 of those squishy air pillow things in your Amazon package to carrying all your personal items out of the office as you contemplate the gravity of your sudden layoff. As a leader, it’s important to flex versatility and be open to new approaches to navigate your team’s changing needs and circumstances.

📦 Cardboard boxes are strong and durable

They may not be the most glamorous or flashy material, but they are capable of holding and protecting a surprising amount of weight. As a leader, it’s important to have a strong foundation, maintain structural integrity when carrying all the deadweight on your team, and develop the ability to shoulder the entire range of emotional burdens dumped on you by well-meaning colleagues.

📦 Cardboard boxes are resourceful and efficient

They are a simple, yet effective solution for packing and transporting things (like squishy air pillows and personal items), and they can be transformed into a variety of useful and entertaining objects — ask any cat. As a leader, it’s important to be resourceful and to use your strengths efficiently in order to create the most value for those around you.

📦 Cardboard boxes encourage creativity and imagination

From forts to race cars to large vestibules that you can crawl into and cry in, the possibilities are endless when it comes to creating something unique with a cardboard box. As a leader, it’s important to encourage creativity and playfulness in yourself and your team in order to come up with breakthrough solutions.

📦 Lastly, cardboard boxes remind us to always look for new opportunities to learn.

Birds of prey aren’t the only source of inspiration for workers in the 21st century; even something as humble as a cardboard box can teach us valuable lessons about life and leadership. As long as you have an open mind, and avoid getting wet, a cardboard box can be the perfect leader for your team.

Author’s note: If you found this useful, please like and subscribe for more inspirational content. Other posts include:

“What My Non-Stick Pan Taught Me About Financial Resilience”

“Career Advice from My Uncharged Electric Toothbrush”

“Toilet Paper is the New Bullet Journal: 4 Practices to Boost Daily Reflection”