by General (Ret.) Joseph Votel
One of the challenges I experienced as a senior leader was finding time to think. Schedules get busy, and, of course, urgent actions require immediate attention. They seem to consume the calendar. As a Combatant Commander, I built some time into my schedule so I could think about some of the challenges that we were facing. It was usually only a few minutes – but it helped immensely.
Sometimes, I included my staff in this, and we just discussed a situation or a threat without the burden of making a decision. It was really helpful – it allowed me to gain perspective, and the interchange helped to get everyone aligned around the problem … so when we did make a decision, we were collectively in a better place. It was a key to the success of the “command and feedback” approach we tried to apply across the organization.
I want to commend this book – A Minute to Think by Juliet Funt. In it, she lays out various ways leaders (and anyone) can find ways to say “no” when necessary, and add thinking and reflection into their daily activities. She includes excellent examples – from mundane daily activities to decisions of more significant consequence. This book will sharpen personal skills, help leaders regain control over busy schedules, and increase effectiveness and productivity.
General Joseph L. Votel is a retired U.S. Army Four-Star officer and the former Commander of the U.S. Central Command. He previously served as Commander of U.S. Special Operations Command and the Joint Special Operations Command. Following his retirement, General Votel has served as the President & CEO of Business Executives for National Security (BENS) and on a number of boards of directors. He a Distinguished Chair of the Combating Terrorism Center at West Point and a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.
- Listen to General Votel talk about the importance of reflection in his 2021 interview with Joe Byerly.
- Listen to Juliet Funt on A Minute to Think in her 2022 interview with Joe Byerly.
- Watch Joe Byerly recommend A Minute to Think and other key books for leaders in this Youtube video here!
