Move From Good to Great Leadership with Feeling, Thinking, and Taking Action
It is a busy world, and everyone has more than enough on their plates. It can feel as though you don’t have enough time to do everything you want. So, when leaders are asked about time to think, let alone feel, it can be almost a silly sounding question. We tend to gravitate to action, but even that takes time, and without a proper plan, does it even make sense to begin doing something? It is usually after the fact that we ask ourselves that final question. That urge to act immediately is driven to demonstrate we are doing something, anything, to address a situation. Yet, we are likely missing opportunities to make our actions far more productive. Our ability to innovate, make an impact, or engage fully is compromised by not making the time to thoughtfully think through our approach and plans.
With the time limitations we seem to have, it may seem counter-intuitive, but building in quiet, uninterrupted ‘thinking time’ can be the most important action we can take to get the improved outcomes we are looking for. Taking steps to schedule time for thought, analysis, and understanding how the results may affect others will have a meaningful impact on your outcomes. This is how leaders can move from good ideas to great ideas.
Make time to think
Thinking time is likely something we have all taken for granted. This is a time where you are not doing anything else. When was the last time you just had time with yourself and your thoughts? No headphones, no television, no music…just you, surrounded by silence.
You may think that your shower time is your thinking time. I admit I have many ideas come to me during that time when I allow for it. However, for real thinking time, you’ll need more than a shower. It may not need to be measured in hours each time, but you will want to dedicate some significant chunks of time when you can let your mind wander and explore many ideas. Have something to capture your thoughts — the simpler, the better. A voice recorder is an excellent tool for this. It allows you to think and talk through your concepts aloud (I always find that helpful).
Finally, make this a regular habit. Schedule your thinking time. That may help prime your brain to know that you will have that time dedicated to releasing all the constraints so that ideas can flow freely. A planned time, a quiet place, and a way to capture your thoughts are all you need to set ourselves up for a productive thinking session.
Search your feelings…leader
Ok, I borrowed the line from the Star Wars movies. But there is tremendous value in allowing your feelings to come through as well as understanding the feelings of others. When you make time to think and feel, new ideas will begin to flow. Many people swear by meditation as well to recharge and innovate. This largely comes from learning to quiet the busy part of your mind and allow you to connect more deeply with your thoughts. It is a way to quiet the noise we all have around us. While I cannot speak to the benefits of consistent meditation directly, I can speak to the idea of allowing myself to quiet my mind and embrace how I feel about ideas or situations.
It is a somewhat odd sensation to be thinking about an idea or a possible outcome and suddenly be filled with excitement, an uncontrollable smile, and even laughter at times. That is when you know your ideas and feelings have connected.
Take Action
Once that connection has been made, it is time to put a plan into motion. Define that first necessary step to move forward — get started. You do not need to have all the steps it will take to realize your new idea, just the first one to get the ball rolling. As you continue to make time for thinking and feeling, the additional steps will come as well.
Time is a precious thing; few people believe they have enough of it for most of the things they want to do. However, making time to think and feel and then to take action can lead you to find more time in the future. As you place your plans into place, they will spur even more ideas. As you build a process for yourself to make time for thinking and to feel, you will be rewarded with new ideas that allow you to find ways to get more done for your business and yourself.
How do you see yourself benefiting from setting aside time for dedicating thinking regularly?
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Photo by Benjamin Davies on Unsplash