“Everything we do, say or decide depends first on the quality of our thinking” (Nancy Kline)

Nancy Kline’s work highlights the importance of quality independent thinking in today’s world.  For some time, I have been a supporter and advocate of the Thinking Environment approach to generate and ignite the best possible thinking.  I was reminded of this recently when I met up with a trio of friends who invited me to join them to celebrate 10 years of committed ‘time to think’.  I introduced this small group to the Thinking Environment when I was training as a Time to Think Practitioner.

Following the training I did with them this trio have met consistently at fortnightly (on-line during COVID) intervals to think together in a thinking environment. They reported how powerful the time together had been for them in terms of:

• Igniting new thinking to support them both in their work and personal lives;
• Resourcing them as individuals as they shared feelings, discomfort and challenges. This has resulted in developing resilience.

Their feedback to me was it had been transformational and it was something they relied on.  I also know for myself how it supports me – I meet monthly with a thinking partner as part of my routine reflective practice.  It provides me with a dedicated and committed time to pause, think with accountability and unblock assumptions to gain new insights.

Why might this be the case?

• Rarely in today’s modern world, where AI and other forms of thinking are instantly available, do we as individuals really get the opportunity or the challenge to think for ourselves; to think independently without anyone or anything saying what we should or need to think.
• Because thinking in the presence of another human being, who through their generative and undivided attention encourages us to take our thinking to a place we haven’t dared to go before.
• Because through the attention we are also held accountable to keep thinking for ourselves, and not to step away when it gets tough.
• Because we are doing it with a thinking partner we commit to the time and use it for quality thinking.
• Because it provides us with the space to think without the interruptions of noise, devices etc – we think better when we are free of interruption.

You may be asking what the Thinking Environment is – if you are I encourage you to read the book “The Promise that Changes Everything:  I won’t interrupt you” by Nancy Kline.  Fundamentally, the Thinking Environment is based on 10 core components which create the optimum environment for quality thinking.

My take way from meeting with this group was a helpful reminder of the value of thinking in the presence of another human being.

Reference:  Kline, N (2020). The Promise That Changes Everything. Penguin.