Have you ever tried to get ahead of problems at work? Have you been dreaming of being a more proactive leader instead of a reactive leader? If so, you’ll know that it is difficult because there are always fires to put out and people needing something from you. Time management as a leader or manager can be a lot to juggle. So, what do you do? Many people become more proactive once an issue occurs. But there is a more effective way that will allow you to think ahead and be deliberate BEFORE a problem arises. This post will tell you what you need to know to develop a “thinking time” practice, which is the key to successfully becoming one of those leaders who think and plan strategically.

To develop a habit of “thinking time,” you need to decide AHEAD OF TIME these particulars:

How long do you want to think? 

(I set aside 60 minutes.)

How often do you want to do thinking time? 

(I do mine once a week.)

What time of day would you like to do your thinking time?  

(I do mine at 6:00 am before the family gets up.)

What day would you like to do your thinking time?

 (I do mine on Thursdays.)

Calendar the day, time, duration on a repetitive notification to hold yourself ACCOUNTABLE.

I know it sounds crazy to decide these things ahead of time, but I assure you that if you do, you will be consistent and get the result you are looking for, which is to be proactive!

I know it sounds crazy to decide these things ahead of time, but I assure you that if you do, you will be consistent and get the result you are looking for, which is to be proactive!

I know it sounds crazy to decide these things ahead of time, but I assure you that if you do, you will be consistent and get the result you are looking for, which is to be proactive!

Finally, you get to decide what you want to think about. I determine my questions the day before to get right to my “thinking time” when I wake up.  

Here are some of my favorite thinking time questions to get you started:

1. What do I want to create at work right now?
2. How can I be more effective in my role?
3. Where do I need to spend time coaching up an employee?
4. What coaching does the employee need?
5. How can I make a positive impact on my employees this week?
6. What outcomes would I like to produce this month?
7. What actions do I need to take to deliver the results?
8. What do I need to stop doing?
9. What do I need to start doing?

Now that you know that creating a “thinking time” regime isn’t as hard as you thought, you are ready to get started NOW without worrying about the best way to do it.

If you found these time management tips to be helpful, click HERE to download a printable sheet for you to reference when establishing your “thinking time.”