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I have always been the kind of person who moves through life at 100mph. I am typically focused on being more effective, results, action, and accomplishment. One of my greatest challenges is slowing down. Here are some terms I associate with slow: boring, dull, inefficient, lazy. Slow, traditionally, has been something I strive to avoid.
Over the past few years, the concept of slowness has been subtly creeping more and more into my life. My desire to meditate and spend time in the country is telling me that I need a better pace in my life, a little more slow. What I have been reticent to acknowledge, though, is how a slower pace can be a business success principle. I spend most of my days jumping from task to task and meeting to meeting. Slow makes me feel like there is more to do.Recently, however, I have been witnessing something significant in my clients' lives, and it’s becoming apparent that there is something powerful that I have been overlooking: Having some slowness in your life is actually one of the keys to success. Slowing down allows you to see things that you would otherwise miss, and to be more effective at managing the big picture. With that in mind, here are three ways that slowing down can help you succeed at what you are doing and enjoy it more along the way.
When you are going fast, you tend to react to what comes to you. When you are in a reactive mode, you act without thinking. You risk making decisions that may not be in line with your vision or long-term goals.
Without structured time to check in with yourself or check in with others, you are most likely not bringing your best self to the table. When things are going fast, you may be on autopilot, and this may not be the way you want to lead or show-up to your team or job. How many times have people said things in the heat of the moment and then regretted it? In the workplace, you can’t risk losing your head and saying things that could hurt your reputation or your respect from your team.
In order to see the big picture, you have to step back. If you are in a reactive mode, then you are dealing with detail. In the midst of detail, you lose sight of what is happening holistically with your team or your mission. You also lose sight of objectivity because you are too close to the minutia.The bottom line? Slowing down on occasion will benefit your ability to be happier at work -- and, as a result, become more successful. Try allocating a day a week to slow down, to think about the big picture and make more holistic decisions.
Are there things at your work that can help you and your teams slow down and be more effective? Talk with us about the status of your workplace culture and what your ideal culture looks like.
