Why independent thinking matters

“Responsibility to yourself means refusing to let others do your thinking, talking, and naming for you; it means learning to respect and use your own brains and instincts; hence, grappling with hard work.”  Adrienne Rich

How can we learn to respect our own brain and instincts? 

The most valuable thing we can offer each other is the framework in which to think for ourselves. – Nancy Kline

If you knew that you would be listened to, without interruption, correction, advice or even agreement - how far could you go with your own thinking?

The Thinking Environment® is the framework for Time to Think - based upon a central observation and decades of field work that the quality of everything we do depends on the quality of the thinking we do first.

Time To Think has identified ten behaviours that generate the finest independent thinking through treating people well.

We call them the Ten Components of a Thinking Environment®.In the presence of this ‘way of being’ people think for themselves with rigour, imagination, courage and grace.

AI and digital enslavement have hijacked our attention, is rewiring our brains, making us busier and more stressed than ever.  

Slow down, take time to think, learn how to cultivate independent thinking with colleagues of all ages and roles.

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The Thinking Partnership Course

The Thinking Partnership Course teaches you the Thinking Partnership Session®, a uniquely powerful process for liberating the human mind. Through generative Attention and the building of Incisive Questions™, this process produces breakthrough, independent thinking.

You will participate both as Thinker (considering topics of your choice), and as Thinking Partner (practicing this elegant expertise). Along the way you will explore all Ten Components of a Thinking Environment.

This course is a prerequisite for the Coach Qualifying Course.

  • 1 x 2 hour 1:1 Thinking Session for each participant with Meg

  • 4 x 3.5 hour Group Workshops, with input from Meg and from experiential group conversations and breakouts

  • 4 × 1 hour Thinking Partnership practice sessions (at least) with fellow learners to be scheduled each week for the duration of the programme.

  • CPD certificate awarded on completion.

Requirements

  • Private space, uninterrupted allocation of time for all sessions including thinking Partnership sessions with each other

  • Facility to use Zoom

  • Commitment to attend all sessions

Dates for 2026 - each programme runs for one morning a week for four consecutive weeks 9.00am – 12.30pm

  • July 8th, 15th, 21st, 29th

  • October 7th, 14th, 20th, 28th

  • December 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd

Fees £800 plus VAT pp

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The Foundation Course

The Foundation Course provides an immersive introduction to all the findings and applications of the Thinking Environment. You will learn the Ten Components of a Thinking Environment and how you use the building blocks into a range of applications. You will explore Thinking Pairs, Dialogue, Rounds, Open Discussion, Meetings, the Council and Facilitation. Any of these applications will help you turn groups and organisations into Thinking Environments.

You will also see one Thinking Partnership demonstration in order to consider its importance for leaders in creating Thinking Environment cultures.

This course is a prerequisite for the Facilitator Qualifying Course

Requirements

  • Private space, uninterrupted allocation of time for all sessions including thinking Partnership sessions with each other

  • Facility to use Zoom

  • Commitment to attend all sessions

Dates for 2026 - each programme runs for one morning a week for four consecutive weeks 9.00am – 2.00pm

  • 12th and 13th October 29th October

  • 2, 3, 8th December 

Fees £690 pp plus VAT

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Transforming Meetings Course

You will learn about and practice working with the behaviours which comprise the Ten Components of The Thinking Environment. You will leave with a clear framework of principles and and actions, together with guidance on how to prepare for and run meetings that builds connection, liberates the thinking of the group and provides shared commitment and clarity.

The programme is run on line over one day for six hours plus breaks, and can be run over three shorter sessions - two consecutive days with a follow up the following week. For the one day workshop, we can also work in person at an agreed location.

2026 Dates - all run 09.30 - 16.30

  • 28th July 
  • 27 August 
  • September tbc
  • 6 October 
  • 27 November

Fees £350.00 plus VAT pp

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People come to learn about the Thinking Environment from all walks of life; many are coaches, managers, some therapists, teachers and social workers.

Some come through recommendation, some have read Nancy’s books, some have been enthused by me and my enthusiasm

If you are in one of these professions this practice adds to your skills and maybe challenges some assumptions.

If you aren’t; in particular the thinking partnership programme really does bring about personal change. One participant who attended six years ago recently told me that it’s at the front of her mind in every meeting.

People describe:

  • Being able to articulate their thoughts more clearly

  • Feeling a sense of calm

  • Building confidence to ask for time to work out their thoughts

  • A deeper sense of connection emerging

  • Meetings facilitated with more ease and greater productivity

  • Understanding the power of untrue assumptions

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Kind Words

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    “Meg is an inspirational Thinking Environment coach, she helped me to deepen and improve the quality of my thinking. She pays great attention, asks incisive questions and provides the right environment and frameworks to facilitate change.”

    — Sarah Ackland, Head of Architas UK Funds

  • “I’d describe a Thinking Partnership as being like the sea: it doesn’t end anywhere. It just allows space, allows room for whatever shapes are going to happen.

    It’s a useful approach for tricky conversations, where you can tell someone is having a difficult time and they are struggling to talk about it. It’s not hierarchical, unlike a counselling or mentoring approach, and it supports the other person with space for their own understanding to unfold.”

    — Louis Gilbert, General Manager, Drake Music

  • “I worked with Meg over a period of months in a large public sector organisation. Meg brought a great amount of experience to the role, and changed the way that we thought about organisational development as a function. She was attentive, interested, passionate and knowledgeable - with great knowledge in the area of using/facilitating simple conversation to assist with changing hearts and minds. Meg was a huge asset to the project that we were working on and we wouldn’t have realised the results that we did without her, highly recommended. ”

    — Gareth Stubbs, Organisational Development Co-ordinator, Lancs Constabulary

  • “Working with Meg was invaluable. Her coaching provided clarity, confidence and practical direction at a pivotal time for our organisation. She also facilitated our strategic away day with exceptional skill, bringing focus, generating energy and guiding the team towards meaningful and achievable priorities. I would recommend her wholeheartedly to any leader seeking thoughtful challenge and transformational support."

    — CEO Coaching & Facilitation

  • “Because of Meg's listening skills, there are insights to a situation  Plus she will have some insights to add in to the mix. The sessions are quiet, insightful and positive. Until you have had that relationship with a good coach you don't know what you are missing. 

    Meg challenges my thinking. I think Meg brings natural skills to me in terms of coaching in terms of listening and facilitating . And I think I'm lucky to have found that.”

    — CEO Coaching

  • “She's just got a warmth, a humour, a lovely safeness. You know, she's just so compelling. I feel like she brings this very special ability to hold difficulty, pain, hurt, anger, in a very natural, empathetic way.

    This is year three of Tuesday morning listening with a thinking partner. Different to coaching, it gives calms and orders all the things that ricochet around my mind like angry wasps. Especially the non-work things. The best investment of time and learning I’ve ever done is Thinking Partnership with Meg”

    — Thinking Partnership

Not sure which programme is right for you?

Our programmes are open to anyone. If you'd like some help thinking it through, we're happy to arrange a call and talk it over together.

Send an enquiry