Schedule nothing!

The key is not to prioritize what's on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities.  ~Stephen R. Covey    There cannot be a crisis today; my schedule is already full.  ~Henry Kissinger

Jeff Weiner, CEO of LinkedIn, had a title to his blog post last week that got my attention: The Importance of Scheduling Nothing.  This reminded me of a client who recently said to me, "I just need time to think."  She is the type of person who crams her schedule full of meetings and phone calls.  But she was realizing that she couldn't serve her own clients well if she didn't prioritize time to think so she could give them her best strategic thinking.

Weiner also talked about the transition from tactical execution to thinking strategically.  This transition can be fueled by a number of factors – organizational growth, environmental shifts, or simply being promoted from a managerial position to a leadership position.  One of the challenges I think many of us struggle with in this transition is the idea that "thinking" doesn't always have the same immediate tangible outcome as does tactical execution or doing something.  Consequently, we don't feel as productive when we're thinking.

To help reframe that perspective, here's how Weiner describes thinking:

Thinking, if done properly, requires uninterrupted focus; thoroughly developing and questioning assumptions; synthesizing all of the data, information and knowledge that's incessantly coming your way; connecting dots, bouncing ideas off of trusted colleagues; and iterating through multiple scenarios. In other words, it takes time. And that time will only be available if you carve it out for yourself. Conversely, if you don't take the time to think proactively you will increasingly find yourself reacting to your environment rather than influencing it. The resulting situation will inevitably require far more time (and meetings) than thinking strategically would have to begin with.

Thinking is so important to Jeff Weiner that he blocks out at least 90 minutes (sometimes in 30-minute increments) every day to think.  He doesn't schedule anything specific for that time other than thinking.  He, literally, schedules 90 minutes of "nothing" every day.

I'm guessing that at least some of us are thinking Weiner leads a large organization; of course he has the luxury of scheduling time for nothing.  He has a leadership team and managerial staff to do all of the executing.  What about those who lead a one-person business, or who are in a mid-level role, or lead a small organization?  I think the same principle not only still applies; it is just as critical.  Time is a level playing field.  We all have only 24 hours in a day and 7 days in a week, no more, no less.  And no matter how large or small the organization, we are all still left with the truth that "if we're not spending time thinking proactively, then we will be reacting to our environment rather than influencing it."

Does reacting or influencing have a greater likelihood for long-term sustainability? Frequently, while on dog walks in my neighborhood, I wander by a condo building called "The Montgomery."  It got its name from the previous owner, Montgomery Wards.  I think their leadership tried to react to the environment, and they tried hard, but failed to have any influence.  Makes me wonder how much thinking time was  taking place in those conference rooms, offices, and hallways that are now filled with kitchens, bedrooms, and living rooms.