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Creating Space to Think: Unlocking Curiosity, Creativity and Clarity
Read time: 4.25 minutes
Welcome back to Future-State Thinking. Today, we’re diving into a crucial element of leadership and innovation that often gets overlooked: creating space to think.
In a world that constantly demands action, carving out time for deep thinking is not just beneficial – it’s essential for innovation and long-term success.
Hi Reader,
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Alright, let’s get to this week’s content…
You may have noticed (hopefully) that I’ve been struggling to create space for my own creative thinking and writing and the newsletter has had suffered with a three week hiatus.
So, this weeks topic is timely on a personal nature and also professionally, because recently, I had the opportunity to lead a workshop on creative problem-solving for a group of executives.
One of their biggest challenges was finding the time and mental space to step back from daily operations and think strategically. They were bogged down by constant busy work and feeling like they needed to ‘jump to solutions’, leaving little room for innovative thinking.
What I’m chuffed about the most is that the workshop led to the them taking action to free up some time to reflect – “The key reflection from the group is that we often feel forced into solution mode and to move with ‘pace’ at the expense of deeper questioning. Its almost so in-grained that going back a step to explore deeper feels uncomfortable! We are now going to implement a weekly reflection session at our team stand-up meeting to share examples of when we use more open, enquiring questions with a design-led mindset.”
I hope this newsletter helps you find space to think.
Why Thinking Space Matters
Modern workplaces often mistake busyness for effectiveness. However, as I emphasised in the workshop, deep thinking – the kind that leads to real insights – can only happen when we intentionally slow down.
However, as Roger Martin explains in The Design of Business, true innovation requires moving through a continuum—from mysteries (unknowns) to heuristics (rules of thumb) and eventually to algorithms (repeatable solutions). By exploring mysteries, we open the door to creativity and strategic thinking.
Without this space to explore, teams often settle for quick fixes, missing opportunities for innovation. But when we deliberately carve out time and space to engage with the unknown, we give ourselves the opportunity to generate new ideas and move towards more refined, implementable solutions.
Strategies for Creating Space to Think
1) Schedule Unstructured Time
One of the most effective ways to create space for thinking is to schedule unstructured time. This practice is about deliberately blocking off time in your calendar to focus on strategic or creative thinking without a specific agenda or task.
Example:
Jeff Weiner, former CEO of LinkedIn, regularly scheduled two-hour blocks of “thinking time” during his day. These moments allowed him to reflect on high-level strategy and long-term goals without the interruption of meetings or emails.
Actionable Tip:
Add a recurring 1-2 hour block to your weekly calendar dedicated to “thinking time” or “strategic space.” Protect this time like any important meeting, and use it for creative or strategic reflection without distractions.
2) Change Your Environment
Changing your physical environment can dramatically impact your mental clarity. Stepping outside your usual workspace can shift your perspective and help you think more creatively.
Example:
Steve Jobs was known for his walking meetings, where he found that movement and fresh surroundings helped stimulate open-ended discussions and creative thinking.
Actionable Tip:
Change your environment the next time you’re stuck on a problem or need a creative breakthrough. This could be as simple as walking, working from a different room, or stepping outside for fresh air. Even a small change in location can refresh your thinking.
“All truly great thoughts are conceived by walking” – Nietzsche
This technique has been so effective we’re including it in The DUCTRI Playbook.
3) Use Micro-Meditations to Reset
When your mind is overwhelmed with tasks and distractions, even short breaks for mindfulness or meditation can help reset your focus and improve clarity.
Micro-meditations – short, focused pauses throughout the day – can reduce mental clutter and give your brain the space to think deeply.
Example:
Executives like Ray Dalio (Bridgewater Associates) have long credited meditation with improving focus and decision-making. Brief meditative pauses can help calm the mind and create mental space for more strategic thinking.
Actionable Tip:
Take 5-minute meditation or mindfulness breaks during your day, especially before diving into strategic or creative work. Apps like Headspace or Calm can guide you through short, effective meditations to clear your mind and restore focus.
4) Limit Digital Distractions
In an era of constant notifications, limiting distractions is essential for deep, focused thinking. Digital interruptions – emails, social media, messaging apps – pull us into reactive thinking and prevent us from engaging with complex ideas or strategic planning.
Example:
In his book Deep Work, Cal Newport advocates for undistracted, focused time to cultivate meaningful, high-level work. By reducing the pull of constant connectivity, you can protect the space needed for strategic or creative thinking.
Actionable Tip:
Set “focus hours” during your day where you turn off notifications, avoid meetings, and concentrate on deep work.
5) Embrace Solitude for Strategic Reflection
Solitude is often overlooked in modern work environments, but it is one of the most powerful tools for strategic thinking. In moments of isolation, without interruptions, you can step back, assess problems, and think long-term.
Example:
Bill Gates famously takes “Think Weeks,” where he retreats alone with books, articles, and notebooks to reflect on long-term challenges and innovations. These weeks are focused entirely on high-level thinking, free from the demands of daily operations.
Actionable Tip:
Create regular “solitude sessions” in your schedule—for an hour each week or a half-day retreat once a month. Use this time to reflect on strategic decisions, long-term goals, or creative challenges without interruptions.
6) Encourage Divergent Thinking Sessions
Encouraging your team to engage in divergent thinking can help foster creativity and innovation. Structured activities like brainstorming, nominal group technique, or even metaphor mashups encourage team members to think beyond the obvious and explore new possibilities.
Example:
Google is known for its “20% Time” policy, where employees are encouraged to spend 20% of their workweek on creative projects that may fall outside their typical responsibilities. This culture of giving space for exploration has led to significant innovations like Gmail and Google Maps.
Actionable Tip:
Hold regular brainstorming or creative thinking sessions with your team.
Use techniques like How Might We questions to reframe challenges and encourage diverse perspectives. This helps create a culture where creativity and innovative solutions can thrive.
(You’ll find more to help you in The DUCTRI Playbook – join the waitlist here)
⚡️Call to Action:
Creating space to think is not just a luxury – it’s necessary for leaders and teams who want to innovate and make better decisions.
By scheduling unstructured time, limiting distractions, changing environments, and encouraging reflective solitude, you can unlock the creativity and clarity needed to tackle complex challenges.
This week, schedule your first “thinking hour” and experiment with one of the strategies above.
Whether you try meditation, a walking break, or limit your digital distractions, you’ll notice how creating space for deep thinking can transform your approach to problem-solving.
That’s all for this week.
Thanks for being here and see you next Wednesday (NZ time),
Vaughan
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