The world has changed a lot in the past few decades, and many of these changes have shaped the way that leaders operate. It wasn’t long ago that managers would print out a memo and drop it on everyone’s desk. Nowadays, you probably drop a couple of lines in a Slack chat.
Many of the changes have made our lives easier. The world has shrunk; we can now easily communicate and work with people around the globe. However, that connectedness has come at a cost. It is now more difficult than ever to disconnect.
Sometimes, it’s important to take a pause, step back, and review where we are going. In a world driven by speed and motion, it’s difficult to quantify the benefit of slowing down. However, you can reach the point of simply going through the motions and losing sight of the direction you’re heading in.
Why Pausing Matters More Than Ever
Our modern culture pushes urgency. While this isn’t a bad thing in and of itself, this urgency breeds other problems.
It’s no secret that cell phone use is at an all-time high, and many studies show that addiction plays a major role. It is just one example of how we have become accustomed to instant feedback and gratification. Now, receiving a response at work isn’t what most people consider fulfilling or satisfying, but there is that expectation that responses should come rather quickly.
Management and shareholders alike can have that same thought process. They need to see results ASAP. That can leave you working longer and pushing your team harder for little extra benefit.
When leaders try to overcompensate by moving faster, they often create more problems than they solve. Additionally, this can lead to missing more obvious solutions or even opportunities. That is why taking strategic pauses is so important.
Reflection as a Strategic Advantage
Taking a reflective pause is essential because it gives you the time to take a short step back before going forward again. Instead of blindly forging on, you can better analyze what worked and what didn’t.
But taking the time out of your schedule for a break may sound self-centered or inefficient in the corporate world. However, that is far from the truth.
The impact of taking a pause also goes beyond the bottom line. It’s also important to recognize that there are different ways to pause and reflect, and not all of them have to do with work. Taking a break in your personal life to reflect on life decisions must also be prioritized.
Reflection fuels:
- Better decision-making: Leaders who pause can zoom out, weigh trade-offs, and avoid knee-jerk choices.
- Stronger team dynamics: Reflection fosters emotional intelligence, which strengthens trust and communication.
- Clearer communication: When leaders are clear with themselves, they’re clearer with others.
- Values-aligned leadership: Pausing creates space to ask, “Is this aligned with who we are and where we’re going?”
By taking breaks, you can become a better leader. That may include being more aware of your decisions, or even just communicating better with your team.
Practical Ways to Build Pause into Your Leadership
It’s easy to say that leaders should take a pause, but it can be a bit more complicated to actually implement. After all, you probably have a full schedule with all of you available time already accounted for.
The key is to look for available time, or to make time available for you. You don’t have to dedicate an hour a day to deep thinking. Small breaks can be equally effective. A short mid-day pause can really help rejuvenate and contemplate what’s gone right and wrong so far.
Another option is to simply pause notifications on your cell phone and computer. You may not have complete silence, but the break from notifications can help your brain slow down and concentrate on other things.
If you regularly eat lunch in the office, consider going out just to get away for a little while. Even if you just go for a short walk or a drive, it can help you get away from the stimulation and constant motion of work.
While short pauses can help you reflect, it’s also a good idea to pair them with longer ones. For instance, a monthly trip to do something you enjoy. Ideally, this could be a part of a team-building exercise that lets everyone take a brief pause. Vacations are also a great way to pause and recharge.
Clearing your mind by taking a pause will give you some time to reflect. This not only includes reflecting on the past, but also on how you can improve going forward.
Conclusion: Slow Is Strategic
Amidst the hustle and bustle of corporate demands and a fast-paced world, it can be difficult, if not impossible, to simply disconnect and reflect. Unfortunately, forcing yourself and your team to just keep moving forward is a disservice.
Slowing down can be a strategic choice. Reflection is critical, and taking a pause doesn’t mean you are slacking or being counterproductive. Sometimes it’s necessary to take a pause, even in the middle of a big project. Doing so can ensure that the path you are on is the correct one and that you are making informed decisions.
Remember to maintain healthy boundaries when it comes to pauses. Obviously, you can’t cut off your co-workers completely during a mid-day break, but ignoring boundaries altogether will defeat the purpose entirely.
