Time to Think: Listening to Ignite the Human Mind

by Nancy Kline

The Ten Components of a Thinking Environment 1 Attention Listening with respect, interest and fascination. 2 Incisive Questions Removing assumptions that limit ideas. 3 Equality Treating each other as thinking peers. • Giving equal turns and attention. • Keeping agreements and boundaries. 4 Appreciation Practising a five-to-one ratio of appreciation to criticism. 5 Ease Offering freedom from rush or urgency. 6 Encouragement Moving beyond competition. 7 Feelings Allowing sufficient emotional release to restore thinking. 8 Information Providing a full and accurate picture of reality. 9 Place Creating a physical environment that says back to people, ‘You matter.’ 10 Diversity Adding quality because of the differences between us.