Book Review - Time to Think by Nancy Kline

Title of publication: Time To Think: Listening to Ignite the Human Mind

Author: Nancy Kline

Publisher: Ward Lock, London, 1999

Price: £9.99

Summary of Content

This book introduces Nancy Kline’s model of the Thinking Environment (TE). The premise is that with a certain set of conditions in place, the human mind will have the ability to think more effectively and independently. Kline argues that it is important to develop a TE in everything that we do, because “until we are able to think for ourselves, our dreams are not free to unfold”

In the first part of the book, Kline outlines the 10 components that create a TE: attention, incisive questions, equality, appreciation, ease, encouragement, feelings, information sometimes, place, and diversity.

The first two components of attention and incisive questions are the most important: Whilst demonstrating that they are being attentive to the speaker, the listener must ensure that they allow individuals to speak uninterrupted. By doing so, individuals are more likely to feel free to allow their mind to consider possibilities that they would never have considered if they had been interrupted or felt limited by time. Nancy Kline neatly names the habit of interrupting as “verbal tailgating”.

The model of incisive questions is explored in the second part of the book under the “Thinking Partnership”: Kline explains how limiting beliefs can be identified and then removed through the use of Incisive Questions. This is a key technique that is used to open up the thinker to reach more substantial conclusions or insight in their key issues.

In the second half of the book, Kline describes how the TE can been applied in organisations, and describes a model that can make meetings become more effective. The model for a Thinking Partnership is accompanied by a case study which brings the power of the intervention to life. In essence, the Thinking Partnership could be described as a model for a coaching session.

In the final part of the book, Kline describes how the TE can be applied in a range of settings: health, education, politics, relationships and the family.

Who should read this book?

Although many of aspects of this book can be adopted by anyone, I would particularly recommend it to managers, trainers and coaches. I feel that there are many good elements of this book that can be utilised, if used in combination with other approaches such as Motivational Interviewing.


Summary

I found this book extremely interesting. It proposes a fresh approach to listening and argues that having positive approach to issues can enable them to overcome any manner of difficulty.

The tools and techniques that Kline describes in this book can be readily used within a coaching and / or training environment. Whilst Kline recommends that for the TE to be fully effective, all 10 components need to be present, I have chosen to take the key tools and techniques presented to use in my own work both as a coach and trainer: most notably the "ice-breaker" technique that is deployed at the beginning of meetings and the use of Incisive Questions.

However, I felt the book lost some of its credibility in the chapter regarding Health. In this chapter, NK describes the awful experience she had in her 20s when she is faced with life threatening cancer. She goes on to explain that her choice to refuse medication and instead to think positively enabled her to survive. Whilst this is an incredible story, I found this difficult to reconcile having worked in the NHS for over 10 years.

On the whole, this is a powerful book, with new insights into empowering individuals to achieve more by making conscious decisions in their own lives and fro this reason I would recommend this book.


Overall rating: 8/10