One of the biggest problems in leadership today: we have a thinking gap.
Doing your best work -- be it running your embryonic start up or managing a global organization -- is impossible to do well without a regular practice of stopping to think about things.
Seem obvious? Well if you do it -- if you take a daily "time out" just to sit and think -- you're the exception.
Most executives I work with are on overdrive. When presented with the possibility of time to do some heavy thinking, they realize they're starving for it, desperately need and want it, yet don't know how to go about it.
One global executive told me, "I just go from thing to thing on my calendar like a robot, and try and think at night (I'm too tired) or other times. But really I just end up putting off the thinking -- the synthesis of all the inputs I'm getting -- until the last minute."
Solution: The Delta Project
Coaching suggestion: Block off a time every day, every other day, or every third day--whatever you can do--give it a name (I use "Delta Project") for your calendar, and use that time to turn off your phone, computer, and other devices, and just sit and think. I suggest a half hour every day, just to start.
You're not allowed to talk to anyone or answer the door.
Take this time out just to sit and think. Notice the temptation to be in action, to be doing something. Well thinking IS doing, and an absence of thought and reflection is a problem for most leaders, and it doesn't have to be yours.
Just try the delta project -- I'm betting you'll get a lot out of it.
David Peck
Senior Executive Coach
Goodstone Group