Stop Everything. It’s Time to Think.
Why strategic thinking and planning matters for leaders
In a modern world that values productivity, efficiency and connectivity, it seems counterintuitive to set aside time to just think and reflect. Yet, some of the most successful people in the world credit this simple act as revolutionizing their organization.
Steve Jobs, who helped popularize the term “think week,” was known for setting aside time for reflection, as well as for banning slideshows during his weekly agenda-less meetings so that his team could debate, question and think critically without technology. Not surprisingly, many other great minds like Bill Gates and Albert Einstein have practiced the art of contemplation, considering the space to think not a luxury, but a necessity. Thinking improves the quality of ideas. We need innovative services, solutions and products to act creatively and stay competitive.
Why leaders need strategic thinking
Thinking grants us the freedom to find a problem worth solving and produce unconventional strategies that shift outcomes. Whether you choose to set aside a certain amount of time each day for strategic thinking or you create your own think week, the benefits of strategic thinking are many. Some obvious ones include:
Ability to predict challenges
Improved decision-making
Purposeful creative time
A chance to recharge
Opportunity for strategic planning
Defining short and long-term goals
How to incorporate strategic thinking
Coming up with fresh and unexpected ideas, though, requires unstructured, reflective thought. To do this, our brains need time and space. In his book Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less, author Greg McKeown writes that “the faster and busier things get, the more we need to build thinking time into our schedule. And the noisier things get, the more we need to build quiet reflection spaces in which we can truly focus.”
Ray Dalio, founder of the legendary Bridgewater Associates, notes a similar idea in his book Principles:
“Our greatest moments of inspiration often ‘pop’ up from our subconscious. We experience these creative breakthroughs when we are relaxed and not trying to access the part of the brain in which they reside, which is generally the neocortex. When you say, ‘I just thought of something,’ you notice your subconscious mind telling your conscious mind something. With training, it’s possible to open this stream of communication.
“Many people only see the conscious mind and aren’t aware of the benefits of connecting it to the subconscious. They believe that the way to accomplish more is to cram more into the conscious mind and make it work harder, but this is often counterproductive. While it may seem counterintuitive, clearing your head can be the best way to make progress. Knowing this, I now understand why creativity comes to me when I relax (like when I’m in the shower) and how meditation helps open this connection.”
Try it yourself. Taking time to think and reflect may well become the most productive part of your week.