This recording with Emilie aims to use the Thinking Environment for the purpose of an interview, where the guest/thinker feels at ease to think in real-time, without pressure to perform. The host has no agenda other than to support the guest to think independently through their own questions.

Notice the importance of staying open, non-judgmental, the value of not interrupting and listening in to where the interviewee is going next with her thinking.

In other words, the host is not listening to reply but to ignite new thinking in her partner.

You can apply it to any conversation, and surely in podcasts, conference panels, and firechat sessions.

Rachel recorded this wayfinding session just before embarking on a recruitment round for a new board. Before the start, we spend a few minutes introducing Rachel and her work.

Notice how Rachel finds her real objective after a few minutes. In a more traditional coaching session, some words and topics would have been picked up early on. As Rachel is being given the space and the generative attention to think independently for herself, she circles back naturally on these themes in her own time.

She eventually solves her dilemma and sets herself practical steps ahead. Then she explains how being a Thinking Environment worked for her.

What are your thoughts?

“What does it take to connect to self, be present and honour the moment?”

The partners in this video use a simple application: a dialogue.

“Dialogue at its best is not two people talking. It is two people thinking.”

In order for dialogue to be rich, intelligent and worth the time, listening in a Thinking Environment requires you to be interested not just in what the person is saying, but equally in what they are going to say next. You are more interested in what is real and true for the other person than you are frightened of being proved wrong, or needing to be right. Finally, you promise you will not interrupt.

“How do we stay connected to mission?”

In this group brainstorming session, I introduce the components that make a great thinking environment where people can think independently for themselves.

A first round with a collective positive question allows for the group to bond.

Then we bring up the brainstorming topic, enabling the participants to share their thoughts in a safe, respectful, equal and boundaried structure.

We end up with an appreciation.