I Don’t Have Time To Think!

I Don’t Have Time To Think

I was working with a group of senior leaders the other day and we were discussing the importance of creating time and space to be able to think.  And there was a consensus in the room that these leaders didn’t feel like they had enough time to be able to do this.  One leader in the group asked the question, “How do we create time to think when we have so much on our plate already?”

I think this is probably a common challenge for several leaders.  It was Albert Einstein that said, “We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them”.  Yet I think this is often what people are trying to do when they think about making time for thinking.  Let me explain further.

As leaders, we are so busy doing the doing that, we can feel like we are on that brand of treadmill that never turns off.

The Role of Mindset

Given we won’t solve the problem of not having enough time with the same level of thinking that has created the challenge for ourselves, we need to check in on our mindset.  Are we approaching the issue of using our time differently with a possibility mindset?  Are we comfortable accepting that we are going to have to do things a little differently and that is going to require us to have our head in the game?  If we continue to doubt that making these changes is possible, then they will be.

The Importance of Priorities

At a logical level we probably understand that if we want more time to think, we must make thinking a priority.  When leaders hear this, I notice that look come across their faces which is conveying that they don’t believe they can do this.  Why?  Because they are often thinking that they have to create time and space to think, whilst still doing all of the current things on their radar. But we all know, that is not realistic and is probably why we struggle to solve the problem for ourselves.

If we are going to prioritize thinking, we will need to let go of the things that we could either delegate or just eliminate.  We often continue to do these things because they make us feel like we are achieving – but are we?

Creating New Habits

Creating new habits can be hard.  And this is an awesome opportunity to lean in and shake things up a bit.  We need to become conscious of our current automatic patterns of behaviour and if they are getting in the way of us doing things differently, we need to make some changes. 

An example could be that to have a clearer head for thinking, you want to implement a morning routine that might include exercise, journaling, and meditating.  Now, if we don’t get everything ready the night before so all you need to do is jump up and get your exercise clothes on and head out the door, then this might not happen!  Also, you might need to incorporate the 5-second rule which is when your alarm goes off, you have 5 seconds for your feet to touch the ground.  These little hacks might be the kind of thing you need to create your new habit. 

Now, you might be wondering how creating a morning routine help me have more time for thinking.  Well, I don’t know about you but when I am exercising, I often do some awesome thinking.  So, I use the voice memo feature on my phone to capture the thought because otherwise, I know I will have lost it by the time I get home.  I then use my journaling time to expand on this thought, so it has more body. 

This is really about leading ourselves in a different way to get a different result – which is more time to think.

If you are in doubt about the value of creating thinking time, reflect on this:

• In Deloitte’s Global Human Capital Trends report in 2020, they highlighted the importance of reflection and thinking time for leaders to navigate complex challenges and make strategic decisions effectively. 

• In a study published in the HBR, researchers found that leaders who spent more time thinking strategically and reflecting on their work achieved better business results.

• A survey conducted by The Conference Board and McKinsey & Company found that CEOs who regularly took time for strategic thinking and reflection were more likely to demonstrate higher performance and lead successful organisations.

• Many renowned leaders and thinkers, such as Bill Gates and Warren Buffett, emphasise the importance of allocating time for thinking and reflection as a crucial aspect of their success.

Stephen Covey used the metaphor of ‘sharpening the saw’ in his book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.  The act of sawing represents the tasks, responsibilities, and actions we undertake in our daily lives. While the act of sharpening the saw symbolizes the act of thinking, reflecting, and gaining clarity.  It’s the importance of stepping back, pausing, and investing in sharpening our mental tools (our thinking) to increase our effectiveness and efficiency in achieving our goals.

By prioritizing thinking, just as we prioritise sharpening the saw, we can enhance our problem-solving abilities, make better decisions, gain new perspectives, and ultimately work more intelligently and purposefully.  It highlights the notion that taking time to think is not a luxury but a necessity for long-term success and personal growth.       

Need Some Help?

If you would like some help identifying how you can create time to think, then let’s chat.