12/05/2025
Last week, we had the chance to experience a truly powerful show called My Father’s Coat, presented by Michael Charton from Inherit South Africa. It was one of those performances that stays with you. Michael has spent over ten years working to bring South Africa’s history to life in a way that’s accessible and meaningful for all of us. His goal is simple but profound: to help us connect with our past—not as something that divides us, but as something that can heal, unite, and inspire us.
As I listened to his storytelling, I was reminded of Nancy Kline’s work in Time to Think. Her core idea is that the quality of everything we do—our decisions, actions, relationships—depends on the quality of our thinking. And our thinking, in turn, depends on how we treat each other while we’re thinking. One of the key principles she talks about is equality. That means treating each other as thinking equals—giving everyone the space and time to contribute, even when there’s a hierarchy.
When we create that kind of space—where the quieter voices are heard just as much as the louder ones—we start to see better thinking, better ideas, and better outcomes. People start to listen not just to reply, but to truly understand. That’s when real, meaningful conversations happen—the kind that can shift perspectives and open hearts.
In light of My Father’s Coat, it’s a good moment to pause and reflect. What would it look like if we all aimed to create that kind of thinking environment—one rooted in equality, deep listening, and open-mindedness? If we can do that, we can move from transactional chats to transformative conversations. And through that, we can start to break down the walls of bias and assumption, building something stronger—for our families, our communities, and our country.
