I attended a workshop last year where I learnt about the elements that go into creating a space where people can access their best thinking. It is a framework called The Thinking Environment, created by Nancy Kline based on 40 years of research. I was moved by how quickly I connected with each of the participants of the workshop, simply by allowing them to access their best thinking and in the process gaining an insight into them I would never have had.

I wondered if this was one of those workshop moments where it works so well in the curated setting of a facilitated gathering, or if it could be translated back to my everyday interactions. To my surprise and delight it translated directly, and over the subsequent months, I have applied many of the ideas of The Thinking Environment to my workplace interactions with startling outcomes. The buzz during these meetings and the feedback I have received afterwards are like nothing I have regularly experienced before.

The facilitator of that workshop was Candice Smith, somebody who embodies what it means to connect deeply with others and allow them to do their best thinking. I was humbled and impressed by the presence and wisdom she brought to the process. I wanted to know more about her story and how we can all improve the quality of our thinking. We had an excellent conversation about these, and other, things during this episode.

If you do enjoy listening to Candice, you may also enjoy listening to Lina Patel on listening to herself, Marsha Gorodilova on calming an over-excited mind, or Matt Wicking on cultivating an awareness of ourselves and our context.