The Real Work of Leadership? Thinking.

“Thinking is the hardest work there is, which is probably the reason so few engage in it.”— Henry Ford

You know the feeling...

Back-to-back meetings. Emails.

WhatsApps. Slack notifications.

Zero space to think.

And when you do get a quiet moment, it feels... indulgent. Maybe even rebellious.

But what if I tell you:

🧠 Deep thinking isn’t a luxury. It’s a leadership essential—especially when the pace is relentless.

The Difference Between Managing & Leading

The kind of thinking I’m talking about?

Reflective. Spacious. Strategic.

It’s what separates a busy manager from a clear, intentional leader.

And yet—most of us are stuck in reaction mode.

We default to doing, ticking boxes, staying “productive.”

But the real power?

It’s in perspective.

Let’s Talk About Your Brain (It’s Not a Machine)

Your brain isn’t built for back-to-back-to-back-to-back.

It’s not a factory line.

It’s more like an orchestra.

As neuroscientist Lisa Feldman Barrett explains, your brain is a dynamic system made up of different networks—each with its own role—and they’re designed to work together.

The part I want to put into the spotlight today are:

• Task Positive Network (TPN) – your go-to for focus, execution, decision-making

• Default Mode Network (DMN) – your hub for reflection, creativity, and big-picture thinking

  
  

Here’s the catch: Many leaders spend nearly all their time in TPN—firefighting, solving, performing.

But when you don’t allow space for your DMN to activate, you lose the very things you need most: perspective, empathy, long-term strategy.

🧠 The Goal? Not Either/Or—But Both

The real power lies in the shift—learning how to move intentionally between TPN and DMN.

That’s when:

✨ Patterns emerge

✨ Vision sharpens

✨ Wise decisions get made

A Real-Life Shift: From Busyness to Breakthrough

I recently coached a COO of a fast-scaling tech firm. When we began, his goal was simple: “I want to be more productive.”

But a few sessions in, he paused and said something different:

“I think I’ve built a system that rewards me for being reactive. But I miss the days when I actually had time to think.”

That insight came from slowing down.

From space.

From thinking differently.

We blocked just 90 minutes a week. No agenda. No tech. Just time to think.

Five weeks later, he told me:

“I finally connected the dots between our strategy and what we actually stand for.”

It wasn’t a productivity hack. It was a leadership breakthrough.

Why Blocking Time Isn’t Enough

Let’s be honest.

You can schedule “thinking time” into your calendar...But if you’re depleted, distracted, or bouncing between tabs?

It won’t stick.

Because this isn’t just a time issue.

👉 It’s an energy issue.

👉 And more than that—it’s a belief and identity issue.

Ask yourself:

• What belief keeps me stuck in busyness?

• What part of me thinks thinking is indulgent?

• Who do I need to be to value deep thinking as essential?

  
  

This is where real, lasting change begins.

When You Connect Habits to Identity, Everything Changes

My brilliant COO client, didn’t just block his calendar.

He redefined what effective leadership meant—for him.

He moved from:

❌ “I’ll think when I have time.” to

✅ “Thinking is what makes me an effective leader.”

💡 When a habit aligns with your values and identity, it stops being optional

—and becomes essential.

How to Build Your Thinking Practice

You don’t need a silent retreat. You just need space—on your calendar, in your mind, and in your nervous system.

1. 🟢 Quick Resets (5–15 mins)

• Add small buffers between meetings

• Gaze out the window, breathe, stretch

• Ask: What’s going on for me right now? What stood out today? What’s important next?

  
  

2. 🍽️ Deep Thinking Time (90 mins weekly, if that is impossible start with 60 mins)

• Protect the time—no tech, no distractions

• Change your environment: journal, walk, reflect

• Use prompts like:What’s really going on here? What’s being avoided? What’s the long-term impact?

💡 Write by hand—it slows you down and invites depth.

3. 🚶‍♀️ Supertip: Take It for a Walk

Got a tricky decision?

Leave the podcast behind. Go for a walk, swim, or round of golf—alone.Let your brain wander.

Movement activates your Default Mode Network, where insights often arise—not when you’re trying hard, but when you’re letting go.

A Personal Note

For years, I treated thinking time as a bonus—something I’d earn after the real work.

But I’ve come to see that...

Thinking is the real work.

As a student in Paris, I used to visit the Musée Rodin and sit near The Thinker sculpture just to reflect.

Somewhere along the way, I stopped giving myself that permission.

Reclaiming that space has changed how I work— and how I lead.

One Final Thought to Sit With

🧠 What if your next breakthrough isn’t on your to-do list... but in the space between the tasks?

Want to go deeper?

I coach leaders through transition— those who are ready to lead with more clarity, presence, and purpose.

Curious about what that could look like for you?

👉 Book a complimentary discovery call.

Resources to Explore

📘 Deep Work – Cal Newport

🎥 The Power of Time Off – Stefan Sagmeister (TED Talk)

📖 Time vs Energy: What Are You Really Managing?