For Leaders, Speed Kills. 10 Benefits To Slowing Down

As a leader, I love speed.  I love making things happen.  I do not think I am unusual in that sense.  Leaders love movement.  They love advancement.  They love breaking new ground.  The very nature of leadership is that you are taking people somewhere.

However, I have learned that often speed kills.

Maybe it is the fact that I am getting older.  Maybe I have just run full-force into too many brick walls.  Either way, I am beginning to greatly appreciate a more methodical approach to leadership and decision-making.  I am becoming a fan of slowing down, asking more questions, praying longer, listening to others, and then making a decision.

For the record, I am very weak in this area because I am such a proponent of entrepreneurial leadership.  But I think my passion for growth over the years has resulted in behavior that has often been more reckless than prudent.

Slowing down has resulted in many benefits in my life.  Some of which are the following:

1. I make fewer ill-advised comments.  Therefore, I have less to apologize for.
2. I have more influence with my teammates.
3. I have hurt fewer people.
4. I have learned more from others than I ever thought I would.  I am getting information that is of a higher quantity and quality.
5. My respect for my teammates has grown dramatically.
6. Slowing down has allowed my to leverage my influence more effectively towards the issues I REALLY care about.
7. It has allowed my teammates to shine more because I “don’t suck the oxygen out of the room.”  They are afforded the opportunity to leverage their influence toward the issues they REALLY care about.
8. I have seen God work more clearly.
9. I enjoy the journey and the people more since I do not rush through every issue.  I find myself laughing often.  I have less stress.  I am learning to stop and smell the roses.
10. I make fewer mistakes.  I am more thorough.

I do not know if I will ever be completely strong in this area as it is counter-intuitive to my personality.  However, I like the outcomes I am receiving from a more self-disciplined approach to leadership.

Slowing down has helped me as a leader.  Perhaps you need to slow down also?

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