The Thinking Environment is a way of being with each other that creates the highest levels of psychological safety. We will create the best possible conditions for high quality, rigorous independent thinking, by teaching the principles of The Thinking Environment.
It is a global leadership framework, based on almost 40 years of field research into what needs to be present for people to think independently. We work with Laura Williams, the first UK Global Faculty for Time to Think Inc. Laura trained with Nancy Kline, who pioneered this approach, and still works closely alongside her.
The Thinking Environment is grounded in two simple yet often overlooked observations:
- The quality of everything we do depends on the thinking we do first
- The quality of our thinking depends profoundly on the way we are treated when we are thinking
During an interactive workshop Laura will teach the core principles, known as the Components, which are behaviours underpinned by philosophical beliefs about human nature, such as:
- We are all equal in our capacity to think
- Paying attention borne of palpable respect and genuine interest furthers high quality thinking and connection
- Ease creates, urgency destroys
- Honouring our differences in lived experience helps us to understand each other and think together
- Allowing emotional release restores good thinking
This will set the groundwork for the how we will work together, listen to each other and create psychological safety to explore new territory.
‘The best gift we can offer each other is the framework in which to think for ourselves’
Nancy Kline
