For some people, thinking is doing. For others, doing is thinking. This came directly from one of my executive strategy meetings.
I fall into the latter category; I think while I’m doing. I process while I’m speaking. I process while I’m taking action. By doing, I’m sorting out my thoughts, always moving forward. It works well for me. It’s not the only way, and I don’t know if it’s the best way, but it’s my way. It’s how I operate, how I think and how I get things done.
For some people on my team, thinking is doing. They spend time upfront thinking through all scenarios, planning how things should go, identifying risks, and seeing opportunities. Then, when they’re ready, they take action. This approach isn’t necessarily right or wrong; it’s just their way of getting results.
Both approaches are great. In fact, when done intentionally, they work really well together. If you understand each other’s approach, it comes together nicely. I like people who think before doing because it balances my call to action. The key is to align up front on the timeline for both thinking and doing. That way, I can adjust my expectations without changing the end goal. And they know when something needs to be done based on priorities.
In today’s meeting, someone said, “If you want it tomorrow, I can do that, but I’ll spend a lot of time thinking about it between now and then. If you want it in two weeks, I’ll take more time to think.” These are just different working styles.
Understanding and appreciating these different styles is a big part of forming a great team. Surrounding yourself with different approaches can make you better. But you have to intentionally manage those styles to avoid problems. Done right, it all fits together smoothly.
So, for some people, thought is doing, and for others, like me, doing is thought. Which category do you fall into?
