Book SummaryTime to Think, by Nancy Kline

1-Page Summary1-Page Book Summary of Time to Think

In Time to Think, Nancy Kline explains that what and how we think determines everything we do and say, and that the quality of our thinking is determined by how well we listen to each other. By listening well to others, we can encourage them to engage in higher-quality thought and action—and when others listen well to us, they can encourage the same in us. Kline describes a step-by-step process for taking on the role of the listener to help someone else engage in higher-quality thinking, resulting in the generation and sharing of great ideas that lead to powerful action. By improving your thinking, you can improve every facet of your life, from work to family to relationships and even things like political engagement....

Time to Think Summary Good Thinking Comes From Good Listening

According to Kline, all our actions are dependent on the thinking that precedes them. Further, our thinking is dependent on how well others listen to us. Her research on students showed that while factors like age, IQ, and experience had little impact on the students’ thinking, the attention that others paid them had a significant impact. Therefore, she reasoned, we can teach people to think well, and in order to teach people to think well,...

Time to Think Summary The Thinking Session Process in Six Steps

The key to evoking high-quality thinking in others is to listen to them well. Kline provides a step-by-step process for conducting a productive conversation, or a thinking session, which maximizes the quality of both listening and thinking. You can employ such a session any time you want to help someone else think well, whether they’re attempting to solve a difficult problem at work, weighing their options regarding an important health decision, seeking to improve their relationships with others, brainstorming ideas for a creative project, or approaching any other situation that requires thinking. Similarly, if you need help thinking well, simply reverse the roles in the process listed below and have someone else listen to you.

(Shortform note: If you have a topic you need to think about and don’t have a listening partner available, other experts offer advice on how to think well on your own. In The 5 Elements of Effective Thinking, Edward B. Burger and Michael Starbird explain that you can use techniques like trial and error, examining your perspective for bias, and gaining more...

Time to Think Summary Thinking in Larger Groups

As individuals, our thinking determines the majority of our actions. However, many of the circumstances of our lives are determined by the decisions of groups of people, like our corporate leaders determining our job responsibilities or our government representatives determining our rights with little to no input from us. To elicit the best problem-solving processes, it’s essential that these groups engage in the highest-quality thinking possible. The above process is designed for a one-on-one thinking session, but it can also be adapted for group settings like work meetings, family conferences, or classroom discussions.

Thinking Sessions in Remote Settings

During the Covid-19 pandemic, many organizations began holding group meetings remotely via video conferencing applications like Zoom. Remote meetings have a different dynamic than in-person meetings because it takes more concentration to focus on video meetings and it’s more difficult to pay attention to body language and other nonverbal cues, among other things. This takes a toll on meeting participants and their engagement, a phenomenon...

Time to Think Summary Characteristics of a Thinking Environment

Attention, limiting assumptions, and liberating questions are all aspects of the thinking environment that are directly incorporated into the thinking session process. However, other characteristics also impact how conducive a space is to good thinking.

Diversity and Equality

Good thinking occurs best in a setting that’s reflective of reality, explains Kline, and diversity is reflective of reality. The world doesn’t consist of just one type of person, so your thinking space should be filled with different kinds of people. Additionally, everyone should be on equal footing, with no one considered superior to anyone else—even if some people are higher up in the organization’s hierarchy. While people may have different responsibilities, everyone can be a brilliant thinker, and everyone should be given an equal opportunity to employ their brilliance.

How Diversity and Equality Impact Organizations

Some people object to the idea of deliberately creating diverse groups and organizations, suggesting that such groups don’t perform as well...

Shortform Exercise: Be Your Own Thinking Partner

While Kline’s thinking session process is designed for pairs or groups, you may find yourself in a situation where you need to think through something without help from others. Try adapting Kline’s process to use as an individual.

Begin by explaining everything you think about the problem or topic you’re dealing with. Pretend you’re talking to someone who doesn’t know anything about it, and give yourself the same encouraging, open attention you’d give to another person. You may want to speak into a recording device or write your thoughts down so you can refer back to them as you go.

Shortform Exercise: Make Your Space a Thinking Environment

For the purposes of partnered or group thinking, use Kline’s tips to create a space that’s conducive to good thinking.

First, consider the perspectives that are going to be represented in your session. Do you have a diverse range of viewpoints to draw from? What can you do to bring in ideas from other perspectives?