At the Training 2017 Conference, Temple Grandin gave a keynote speech, “Focusing on All Kinds of Minds.” She shared stories about her approach to design thinking and the big problems she has solved. After 20 years in the organizational development world, I was so excited when Temple said, “Make time to think.”
Afterward, I waited in line because I wanted a signed a copy of her book, “Thinking in Pictures.” After the conference, I sent Temple a thank you card. A month later, I left a message at her office asking to meet by phone to talk about this “thinking thing.”
She called back the next morning. We talked for 45 minutes! Here are the two things she gave me to think about:
1. Ask, “What exactly is your job?” If your job is to think, you need two-to four-hour blocks of uninterrupted time. Make sure you get them.
2. Be sure to do tasks more efficiently tomorrow than today. She told me to “clarify the equipment and the tools necessary to do the work and learn them.”
We get better when we think about it. This week, focus on these two areas and watch how you use your time.
