Making Time to Think

Work can quickly become continuous. Meetings fill the diary, tasks follow one after another and decisions are made in response to what feels most urgent.

As roles become more complex, the need for considered thinking increases. Without it, decisions are more likely to be driven by habit, priorities can become reactive and longer-term direction can drift. We can miss problems developing right in front of us.

Based on my work with hundreds of leaders and my personal experience, making time to think can seem easier said than done. Creating space to think does not require large amounts of time, but it does require intention. Even short, regular pauses can be effective if they are used well.

This might involve setting aside time at the start of the week to decide what really matters, pausing before making a key decision or reflecting briefly at the end of the day.

The focus of that thinking also matters. Questions such as what needs your attention most, where you may be reacting rather than choosing and what you might be avoiding can help to bring clarity. It is often in these quieter moments that things start to come into focus.

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