Create Space

Picture this: you're sitting in back-to-back meetings, your phone buzzing with notifications, emails piling up faster than you can read them, and that important project deadline looming over everything. Sound familiar? Research shows that the average knowledge worker checks email every 11 minutes and spends only 23% of their day on primary job duties. We've become the first generation in human history that needs to create space rather than fill it.

For thousands of years, our ancestors lived surrounded by vast, open landscapes with time to think, reflect, and simply be. Today, we're drowning in information, overwhelmed by choices, and constantly reactive rather than proactive. The irony is striking: we have more tools, technology, and opportunities than ever before, yet we feel more scattered and less in control of our destinies. The solution isn't to retreat from modern life, but to consciously create the mental, emotional, and physical space we need to thrive. When we master this art of creating space, we unlock our ability to think clearly, connect authentically, and deliver powerfully on what matters most.

The quality of your thinking determines the quality of your life, yet most of us rarely create dedicated time for deep reflection, continuous learning, or thoughtful decision-making. We've become addicted to the illusion of busyness, mistaking activity for productivity and reaction for strategic thinking.

Consider Raku, a brilliant pharmaceutical general manager who had always excelled academically but found herself struggling in her leadership role. Despite her intelligence, she was making decisions too quickly, not listening to her team, and letting projects spiral out of control. The root of her problem wasn't lack of ability but lack of space to think. She was unconsciously driven by a childhood need to "catch up" with her gifted older sister, causing her to rush through decisions without proper reflection. Through coaching, Raku learned to pause, breathe, and create space for deeper contemplation. She discovered that slowing down her thinking actually accelerated her success.

Creating space to think requires three deliberate practices. First, build reflection into your daily routine through techniques like the "Reflecting Cycle" - regularly asking yourself what you think, how you feel, and what could happen differently. Second, embrace a growth mindset that sees challenges as learning opportunities rather than threats to your competence. Finally, develop decision-making discipline by gathering sufficient information, consulting your intuition, and accepting that some uncertainty is inevitable.

The transformation is profound when you give your mind room to breathe. You'll make fewer mistakes, learn from experiences more quickly, and develop the strategic thinking that separates good performers from great leaders. Your colleagues will notice the difference - instead of getting a scattered version of you, they'll experience someone who brings depth, wisdom, and clarity to every interaction.

Human beings are fundamentally relational creatures, yet the modern workplace often encourages us to hide our authentic selves behind professional masks. Creating space to connect means developing the emotional intelligence to understand yourself, the courage to share your real thoughts and feelings, and the skills to build genuinely intimate professional relationships.

Nick, a newly promoted manufacturing division MD, illustrates this challenge perfectly. Despite his technical competence, he was experienced as abrasive and over-demanding by his team. The root issue traced back to his childhood experiences with absent father figures, creating a core belief that he was unworthy of love and support. This unconscious wound caused him to treat his team exactly as he had been treated - with emotional distance and harsh criticism. Through coaching, Nick learned to recognize when he was operating from his wounded eight-year-old self rather than his adult professional self. He developed the courage to share his vulnerabilities with his boss and team, transforming his relationships and his effectiveness as a leader.

The path to deeper connection starts with honest self-assessment. Practice the "feeling and number check-in" - regularly asking yourself what you're feeling and rating its intensity from one to ten. This simple technique builds emotional awareness and prevents you from being hijacked by unconscious reactions. Next, develop the courage to share your authentic thoughts and feelings appropriately with colleagues, creating psychological safety where others can do the same. Finally, invest deliberately in relationships through stakeholder mapping, identifying the key people you need to connect with and creating specific plans to deepen those relationships.

When you create space to truly connect, work becomes energizing rather than draining. You'll find that people are more willing to support your initiatives, share important information, and go the extra mile when challenges arise. Most importantly, you'll experience the deep satisfaction that comes from bringing your whole self to your professional life.

All the thinking and connecting in the world means nothing if you can't execute consistently and deliver results. Creating space to do means developing the discipline to plan strategically, the focus to deliver on your commitments, and the leadership skills to achieve results through others.

The story of Red Technologies, led by brothers Tom and Darren, shows how even successful organizations can hit walls when they fail to create proper planning space. Darren, the charismatic sales leader, had built his identity around being the person who could "pull rabbits out of hats" - solving problems through last-minute heroics rather than systematic planning. This approach worked when the company was small, but as they grew to 200 employees, the lack of clear strategy and structured processes was causing growth to stagnate and employee engagement to plummet. Darren's core belief was that formal planning would make him less important and powerful. Through coaching, he learned that planning actually amplifies leadership effectiveness rather than diminishing it.

Effective execution requires three foundational elements. First, set clear, specific goals using the SMART framework and break them down into daily actions. Write them down and share them with someone who can hold you accountable. Second, develop your personal operating system - the habits, rhythms, and disciplines that optimize your productivity. This includes techniques like time-blocking, where you schedule specific activities in your calendar just like meetings. Finally, master the art of delegation and leading through others, recognizing that your impact multiplies when you empower your team rather than trying to do everything yourself.

The transformation from scattered activity to focused execution is remarkable. You'll find yourself accomplishing more in less time, with less stress and greater satisfaction. Your reputation will shift from someone who's always busy to someone who consistently delivers on what matters most.

In our achievement-obsessed culture, we often forget that sustainable success requires creating space not just for doing, but for being. This means connecting with your deeper purpose, maintaining healthy boundaries between work and life, and continuously growing as a human being, not just as a professional.

Almantas, a senior executive in a global technology company, exemplifies this challenge. Despite his impressive track record, he felt increasingly disconnected from his work and uncertain about his future direction. Through a structured coaching process, he discovered that his relentless focus on hitting targets had caused him to lose touch with what truly motivated him. By creating space for deeper reflection about his values and aspirations, he was able to reconnect with his sense of purpose and chart a more fulfilling career path that aligned with his authentic self rather than just external expectations.

Creating space to be requires intentional practices that many high achievers initially resist. Start by regularly asking yourself the fundamental questions: What do I really want? What would make me feel truly fulfilled? What legacy do I want to leave? Schedule regular "thinking time" in your calendar where you step back from the daily grind to reflect on these bigger questions. Practice saying no to opportunities that don't align with your core values, even when they seem attractive on the surface. Finally, invest in relationships and activities outside of work that nourish your soul and remind you of who you are beyond your professional identity.

When you create space to be, you discover that success becomes more sustainable and satisfying. You'll make career decisions from a place of clarity rather than confusion, maintain your energy and enthusiasm over the long term, and inspire others through your authentic presence and clear sense of purpose.

The path to mastering your mind, connecting deeply, and delivering powerfully begins with a fundamental shift in perspective. Instead of trying to fill every moment with activity, you must become intentional about creating the space you need to thrive. As the research clearly shows, reflection increases productivity by nearly 25%, authentic relationships are the foundation of all business success, and focused execution trumps scattered busyness every time.

The journey isn't always comfortable - it requires confronting your unconscious beliefs, developing new habits, and sometimes making difficult choices about how you spend your time and energy. But the rewards are extraordinary: greater clarity about what matters most, deeper relationships that energize and support you, and the satisfaction of consistently delivering on your most important goals. Remember, as one executive discovered, "Once you create the space to think, connect, and deliver, you're not just more successful - you're more alive." Start today by choosing one area where you most need to create space. Block thirty minutes in your calendar this week for reflection, schedule a meaningful conversation with a key colleague, or identify the one goal that would make the biggest difference in your life.