We live in an age that seems defined by attention deficit. The rise of digital tools has increased the number of tasks we juggle daily. Social media, constant emails, and the never-ending notifications can make time feel like a scarce resource. Yet, thinking remains the foundation for everything we achieve. Without time to think, our decisions become reactive instead of intentional. It’s dangerous to allow others to do our thinking, as it seems so many do, or let the busy pace of life erode the valuable moments where we reflect on our work and lives.
Leaders are good thinkers; great leaders are great thinkers. Here are six simple yet powerful suggestions to help you think more effectively and reap the rewards that better thinking brings.
1. Make Time to Think
The need to carve out time for thought is more critical than ever. While I still value the practice of taking a notepad to a quiet place like a coffee shop, the setting doesn’t matter as much as the intention behind it. Recently, I’ve observed that some of the most successful leaders, like Jeff Weiner, the former CEO of LinkedIn, scheduled “thinking time” into their daily routines. Weiner reportedly blocked out 90 minutes a day just to think—no phone, no meetings, no interruptions.
The most common reason people don’t make time for thinking is that they confuse activity with accomplishment. We can easily stay busy and still achieve very little. Thinking helps separate the truly important from the trivial. It brings clarity to our direction and purpose. The simple act of pausing to reflect can help you make better decisions in both your personal and professional life.
2. Find a Good Place to Think
While I still cherish my old thinking spot overlooking the Continental Divide, I’ve come to realize that different people need different environments to thrive. Some leaders find that long walks, as recommended by Steve Jobs, are perfect for their thinking sessions. In fact, science shows that walking boosts creativity. The key is finding a place that lets your mind breathe. Whether it’s a favorite room, a quiet park, or even a stretch of sidewalk in your neighborhood, purposefully creating space for thinking helps you flip the mental switch from task-doing to big-picture thinking.
3. Focus Your Thinking
The temptation today is to let our minds wander from one stimulus to another, especially with the digital overload. Focus is more important now than ever. One strategy I recommend is deep work, a concept made popular by professor Cal Newport. Deep work means spending focused, uninterrupted time on a single problem or idea, rather than juggling multiple things at once.
For instance, instead of wondering how to reduce costs at your business, focus on how to create more value for your customers. Framing your thoughts in a positive way, focusing on opportunities instead of challenges, can lead to breakthrough ideas. Setting a clear focus, whether it’s solving a problem or capitalizing on an opportunity, will help you make the most of your thinking time.
4. Record Your Insights
Good ideas are often fleeting, like a dream that fades upon waking. Elon Musk is known for always having a notebook or phone app to capture his ideas instantly. Whether it’s a notebook, an app like Evernote, or voice memos, record your thoughts. Some of the biggest breakthroughs happen when we revisit past ideas and connect the dots. Reviewing your notes over time will help you see patterns, refine ideas, and build on previous insights.
5. Question What You Know
Mark Twain once said, “It’s not what we don’t know that gets us in trouble, it’s what we know for sure that just ain’t so.” In an era of misinformation and surface-level knowledge, it’s essential to challenge what you know. Thoughtful leaders like Satya Nadella of Microsoft emphasize the importance of being a “learn-it-all” rather than a “know-it-all.” Thinking should be a reality check: How do you know what you know? Says who? Questioning your assumptions ensures that your decisions are based on sound reasoning rather than old or faulty information.
6. Stimulate Your Brain
Innovation expert Doug Hall believes in coffee as a thinking elixir, but we have more tools at our disposal today. Podcasts, audiobooks, and even virtual reality environments can now help stimulate the brain in ways previously unimaginable. If you usually read leadership books, try something different. Pick up a novel or dive into a podcast on astrophysics. The goal is to expose your brain to new ideas. As David Epstein suggests in his book *Range*, broadening your knowledge base leads to more innovative thinking.
Your homework: Commit to better thinking for the next week. Put time to think on your calendar and use the suggestions above. At the end of this period, reflect on the benefits you’ve gained. I’d love to hear how it goes!
Here’s to clearer, more intentional thinking.
Mark Sanborn is an award winning speaker, leadership strategist and Leadership Expert in Residence at High Point University, the Premier Life Skills University which challenges students to “choose to be extraordinary.” He also advises executives and professional speakers on how to speak more powerfully. For more information about his work, visit www.marksanborn.com.
