Weak Leaders Go Nuts Over Hangnails and Hiccups
Every generation feels its pace of life is more frantic than the one before. I wonder if “The Tortoise and the Hare” was written because life was moving too fast around 600 B.C.E.?
Speed is the answer to many things, but the things that matter most come slowly.
In an age when running around with your hair on fire is desired and admired, strategic slowness is the path to enduring success.
Four things to do slowly:
#1. Solve other people’s problems slowly:
The best way to be helpful is to help people help themselves.
Successful leaders create space for the people who created the problem to find solutions. Every problem you solve – for someone – trains them to look to you for solutions next time. It feels powerful, but it’s limiting.
Leaders who solve other people’s problems lose sight of their own priorities.
#2. Reject advice slowly:
Wisdom sounds foolish to those who need it most. Strangely, dumb people often grow smarter as time passes. Think of your parents.
What seems dumb may be smart.
Ask followup questions when advice seems dumb.
- Tell me more.
- What do you mean by that?
- Why do you say that? (Voiced with curiosity, not contempt.)
#3. Listen slowly:
Strong leaders lean into silence.
A few seconds of silence, after asking a question, feels like an eternity. The best among us avoid filling silence with distracting jibberish.
Power-pauses create space for thought. Take a breath.
#4. Start your day slowly:
The tone of your day is set at the beginning.
Get out of bed fifteen minutes earlier so you can reflect and find focus. Some urgencies are trivialities. Chasing the most urgent issue is followership, not leadership.
Going slow is part of enduring success.
Bonus:
- Walk slowly.
- Eat slowly.
- Complain slowly.
- Decide slowly when decisions matter.
What do leaders need to do slowly in order to find enduring success?
Dan I liked the Slowly idea.
One of the traits I figured out about my self ties in to this. In my career, wherever I had to make an especially difficult phone call to someone I would wait till I seemed relaxed or in good spirits. Then the call and the outcome worked out better. Obviously some things are more time sensitive than others and by the time I was a Senior Officer I had more flexibility than earlier in my career. So something can be said for going Slow at times.
Brad
Brad James, author The Business Zoo
Reading this, I thought of our school district superintendent, who concludes his Friday update emails and other messages with this tagline: Be the Tortoise
Fantastic writing and very good advise. Thank you! I have shared this on LinkedIn.
Another great blog. I’m reading “The Leader’s Checklist” right now and one of the items on that list is to act decisively and in a “timely” manner. Sometimes I feel stuck between the wisdom of making important decisions slowly, and making them quickly enough. Any thoughts on when a decision is “ripe” and not green or rotten?
This is a super post. Gained much from this ONE!
Thanks
On Wed, Apr 6, 2016 at 12:05 PM, Leadership Freak wrote:
> Dan Rockwell posted: “Every generation feels it’s pace of life is more > frantic than the one before. I wonder if “The Tortoise and the Hare” was > written because life was moving too fast around 600 B.C.E.? Speed is the > answer to many things, but the things that matter most co” >
Dan, My high school Cross Country coach said it best ” relax and push” ( not a birthing class ) and once I relaxed I could take the hills with the least effort and gain the most on the others. Same goes for life, step back relax, steady push, will work, doesn’t all have to be now! I have a routine that works best for me and anyone can do it. A little extra effort in planning will reap many rewards in one’s day. Give yourself a break and just relax!
decide slowly? what? say yes slowly? say no slowly? maybe.(
I love this advice! As a fast-talker, fast-walking, fast-thinking former New Jerseyian, this is something I must remind myself to do every day- SLOW DOWN. Making time to truly listen and be present has made me a better leader.
Dan, you’re the man! You always give great advice. 🙂
I was reading slowly hence liked your advice! !!
Slow is more often faster
Great Post. For almost 2 years I get up and meditate for at least 15 minutes. The phone, the computer, and the TV are off.
“Wisdom seems foolish for those that need it the most…” is so true in my experience of trying to help others. I’m embarrassed to say that sometimes over-helping my team just creates a sort of organizational co-dependency – limits us all. Thanks Dan.
Not many people advertise the importance of slowing down in today’s day and age, but I think it is a great strategy. Moving slower allows us all to think more clearly, make decisions more informed, and prevents the knee jerk reactions. I like your comment about starting your day slowly as well, it set you up for better decision making and probably reduces anxiety as well. Great post!