“I just need to get through this week.” That’s what a founder told me, for the third week in a row. Her calendar was rammed. Every hour was blocked off with back-to-back calls, team stand-ups, project reviews and investor updates. It’s a common trap as thinking time often gets treated as a reward. It’s something we’ll do once the ‘real’ work is done.
But here’s the truth: Thinking time is the work.
The Hidden Cost of Skipping Thinking Time
When leaders don’t carve out space to think, the business pays the price:
- Strategy becomes reactive, not proactive.
- Teams start misfiring from lack of clarity.
- Everything feels urgent and burnout creeps in fast.
If your calendar is full but your vision is foggy, something has to give.
A study by McKinsey* found that only 9% of executives feel they devote enough time to strategic work. Yet those who do are more than twice as likely to outperform their peers.
Why Thinking Time for Leaders is Critical
This isn’t about idling on a beach with a notepad. It’s about making room for better decision-making, deeper focus and clearer communication. Some of the most transformative ideas I’ve seen came from just one protected hour on a founder’s calendar.
Not because they crammed more in. But because they finally gave themselves the chance to think.
3 Techniques to Build Space Into Your Week
1. Block time in your calendar and treat it as sacred.
No meetings. No inbox. Just focused thinking time ideally at your mental peak, not squeezed between tasks.
2. Use 90-minute strategy sprints.
Pick one issue and go deep. Sketch ideas. Reframe problems. Ask yourself: What’s the real decision that i need to make here? Bonus tip: do this somewhere away from your usual desk to reduce distractions.
3. Run a weekly review.
Ask: What moved us forward this week? What felt like noise? What needs to change next? Documenting this helps you spot patterns and course-correct early.
The Bottom Line
Thinking time for leaders isn’t indulgent. It’s essential.
If you’re stuck in delivery mode and struggling to zoom out, I can help.
🧭 Book a free Scale-Up Strategy Check-In. A 30-minute call to refocus, realign and get your head above water.
Transforming Potential into Performance
*Sources
McKinsey & Company, “The State of Organizations 2023”