One of the greatest casualties of today’s pace of work is thinking.
Many leaders move from meeting to meeting, respond to an endless stream of emails, and race from one deadline to the next. Somewhere along the way, thinking quietly disappears from the calendar.
We all lose when that happens.
One of the exercises I frequently recommend to leadership clients is to schedule “think time” on their calendars. Most embrace the idea enthusiastically.
Ironically, many never protect it.
As deadlines mount and inboxes fill, the first appointment they sacrifice is the one reserved for thinking. They use the time to catch up on work that’s already behind schedule.
It seems productive.
Unfortunately, it’s often counterproductive.
The hour they surrendered was the very thing that might have helped them make better decisions, anticipate problems, and avoid many of the issues that now consume their time.
Thinking doesn’t always require hours. Sometimes all you need is sixty seconds to step back, consider another perspective, or ask one more question before moving forward.
That brief pause can make an enormous difference.
It can lead to:
- Better decisions
- Greater focus
- Less stress
- Fewer mistakes
- More confidence
- Higher-quality results
Speed certainly has its place. It helps us avoid procrastination, keeps projects moving, and enables organizations to stay competitive.
But speed without thought often creates rework.
The fastest leaders are not always the ones who move first. They are often the ones who pause just long enough to think before they act.
A minute of reflection can prevent hours of correction.
Over the years, I’ve also learned something personally. I’ve discovered that when I intentionally slow down, think through the details, and view a situation from another person’s perspective, the quality of my work improves significantly.
Leadership is about developing the disciplines that help you make better judgments and help others succeed.
Protecting your thinking is one of those disciplines.
Something to think about: What would change if you treated your thinking time as one of the most important appointments on your calendar?
“Just play. Have fun. Enjoy the game.”
– Michael Jordan
Header image by Andrea Piacquadio/Pexels.
