Slow Down To Speed Up – How Strategic Pauses Lead To Breakthrough Decisions

In our hyper-connected world, leaders have been grappling with a growing paradox: the more complex a situation becomes, the greater the pressure we face to respond quickly.

And yet, as most of us have experienced at one time or another, our best decisions arise not in the heat of the moment, but when we take a break and focus on something else.

As neuroscience studies have shown, taking a break and focusing on other things gives space for our subconscious to ponder the problem. And in the quiet stillness of that pause, our subconscious helps us discover a better choice.

This reflects a fundamental truth in a rapidly accelerating world – our effectiveness as a leader is tied more to our ability to respond thoughtfully than to our ability to react quickly.

When we embrace the power of pause, we create mental speed bumps that allow us to take a step back from simply focusing on superficial concerns and instead consider deeper, underlying issues.

The stillness that comes with the power of pause allows us to gain greater clarity and with it, discover solutions that were previously obscured by our rush to simply get things done.

Of course, the real power of pause lies in its simplicity. You can access it by taking three deep breaths before an important meeting, or giving yourself five minutes in mindful reflection prior to making a serious decision.

Through the power of pause, we not only become better decision makers who move past knee-jerk reactions to thoughtful responses. We also become more insightful, more intentionally driven leaders who bring much-needed clarity at a time of uncertainty and unending change.