What if thinking is your real job?
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Reader, Ever have one of those wake-up-call moments—the kind that stops you in your tracks? These moments often grow us the most. In my first executive-level position, I was used to getting things done, but leading? That was new territory. Racing through the moments. In the weeks leading up to our big program, I was anything but calm—racing from one thing to the next as if my pants were on fire. I arrived at my weekly check-in so frantic I barely noticed my surroundings. The pressure was on, so I expected to speed through my updates and get back to work. Instead, my boss sat there, calmly watching me. Somehow, I knew the awkward silence wasn't an invitation to start talking. OOMPH! He asked a few questions about our upcoming event, but I didn't know the answers. "I've been really busy this week," I said, assuming that was a reasonable excuse—who isn't busy? His gaze locked on me. "Sara, I am not paying you to be busy. I am paying you to think." Ouch. At that point in my career, it never occurred to me my job was to think. Get things done? Yes. Think? No. The danger of contaminated decision-making. If you're doing the wrong thing, it doesn't matter how fast you do it. You'll still end up stressed—because it wasn't the wisest or best thing for you to do. When leaders get so caught up in being busy that they stop thinking, something has gone terribly wrong. Rush-rush contaminated decision-making clouds judgment, strips away clarity, and makes it harder to see the purposeful actions that actually move you forward. Slow down. Consider the nature of thinking:
Each time you slow down, you open up new possibilities. You become more present, more connected, and more aware of the paths invisible to those who simply rush through their tasks. Building new habits. Slowing down is a choice. You get to decide to operate with intention. As my boss made clear, busyness isn't worth much. You are paid to think and take purposeful action. Building this habit is simple, but it isn't easy. Here are a few essentials.
The power of the pause. One day, I was invited to a meeting with my boss and several team leads. The President of the company was there, but he didn’t lead the discussion. Instead, he sat quietly listening. My boss explained the issue at hand, and immediately, people jumped in with ideas—sometimes talking over each other. I was young and didn’t fully grasp the choices before us, so I watched with curiosity. Finally, my boss halted the conversation and turned to the President. “What do you think?” The room went silent. Instead of answering, the President just sat there, and I wondered, "What is he doing?" Someone shifted uncomfortably, ready to fill the space, but the President raised his hand. “Hang on a moment.” Minutes passed. Then, he asked a question that no one had considered. Slow down. Even slower than that. I think of that moment often.
It is so easy to pick up the pace without even noticing. So many environments are filled with busy people rushing through conversations without thinking or listening. What does busyness cost you? What do you miss when you're rushing? Each moment is a new opportunity. To slow down. Even slower than that. Fill your next moment with purpose and intention. Enjoy! Sara Follow me on LinkedIn Learn about the Intrinsic Leadership Course |