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Make Time to Think: Rethinking Success

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Make Time to Think: Rethinking Success

Welcome to 1-2-3 Social Psychology for Leaders—the weekly boost for leaders, so ambitious people can lead their lives and careers intentionally with confidence and energy.

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Today’s Topic:

Why you should foster and enjoy change?

Dear curious mind,

When was the last time you had the opportunity to think without fearing to be judged? Or the chance to think without time pressure? How did that feel?

I am currently in a weird space in which I have the time and space to think. And what I realized is that it makes me feel like I am useless. The absence of constant pressure, multiple goals requiring instant achievement, and a tight timeline all contribute to a sense of urgency – the time is running out.

Why is that?

I call this the “efficiency trap”. The busier we are, the more we feel like we are productive and effective. The longer the to-do list, the more important we feel. Don’t agree?

How often have you said to someone that you are too busy? I certainly have.

But guess what?

Everyone is busy.

And that’s the problem we have in society, and it is being reinforced systemically and culturally. (I have my own theories on why that is, but that’s for another time.)

Research in Social psychology has shown that in environments that reward speed and visible output, deeper and slower forms of cognition, like critical thinking, self-reflection, and philosophical inquiry, easily get sidelined.

And here is another fun fact: the less time and space you have to think reflectively, the more likely it is that you become anxious, stressed, and depressed.

Which is why deep conversations can lower cortisol levels and increase your Heart Rate Variability. The same goes for scheduled alone time without a phone or any distractions, only time to think and reflect.

And when it comes to my story, well, I am using this time effectively to figure out what to focus on more and what to do less. And while this time seems lonely at times, I have also made the decision not to have conversations with others about what is next.

Because deep down, I know what I want, I know how it should look like. And you do too.

Click here to read the full article on Make Time to Think.

Feel free to email me back or comment on LinkedIn and let’s start the conversation.

See you soon,
Dr. Kinga

“Becoming is better than Being.” – Carol Dweck

Practical Team-Development Tools

Exercise 1: The “Slow Thinking” Experiment

Objective: Reclaim your cognitive space by intentionally slowing down your thought process and observing what emerges when urgency is removed.

How to do it:

Block 15 minutes in your calendar, find a quiet space, and put away all devices.

Write down a single, open-ended question you’re pondering lately (e.g., “What do I really want next in my work/life?” or “What belief is holding me back right now?”).

Set a timer and, for the first 5 minutes, refrain from writing. Just sit with the question and notice initial thoughts, emotions, or discomfort that come up.

For the next 10 minutes, free-write whatever comes to mind, without filtering or editing; just let your thoughts flow.

After the session, read what you wrote. What new ideas or realizations showed up when you allowed for unhurried reflection?

Tip: Try this exercise weekly. Watch how your answers and comfort with “slow thinking” evolve.

Exercise 2: The Assumption Buster

Objective: Strengthen critical thinking by uncovering and challenging your hidden assumptions about a current challenge.

How to do it:

Choose a recent work or life challenge and write a brief description.

List all assumptions you’re making (“I must get this done now,” “There’s only one right way,” “Success means X”).

For each assumption, ask:

“How do I know this is true?”

“What evidence challenges this belief?”

“What would I do differently if this wasn’t true?”

Finish by identifying one action you’ll take based on this new perspective.

Tip: Pair up with a thinking partner or coach to deepen this process and compare your assumptions, challenging each other with curiosity rather than judgment.

3. Additional Resources:

Podcast Suggestion

why listen?

Podcast Preconceived you don’t have to agree, instead you have to think for yourself. But what does it mean to think for yourself?

Podcast Suggestion

why listen?

“Critical Thinking” increasingly stands as the most sought-after skill that has long been to fleeting to define. Employers rate it as a pinnacle skill, but one of which they see too little, and educators claim to teach it, but over half of millennials recently failed a simple mind-edge critical thinking test.

Podcast Suggestion

Free thinking style test

This is a free, research-based interactive quiz with 21 logic and reasoning questions. You’ll learn about your personal reasoning style, your “rationally score”, and get a fun, shareable report at the end – with science-backed tips to build your mental muscles.

Are you enjoying the newsletter? If so, I would love to hear from you what you think about it and what has been helpful so far.

Thanks for your support and ‘see you’ in two weeks!

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