Business moves fast, and it’s common for managers to encourage a sense of urgency as a means of staying competitive. The “Slow is Fast” school of thought contends that meticulousness in management doesn’t mean sacrificing performance.
It’s actually often the opposite, argues David Finkel, author of “Scale: Seven Proven Principles to Grow Your Business and Get Your Life Back.” In an article for Inc., Finkel states that slowing down with your team leads to stronger engagement, better decision-making and faster execution in the long run. Finkel’s tips for managing more deliberately:
- Prioritize one-on-one conversations. Improves individual relationships with team members and shows that you value their contributions and are invested in their success.
- Be fully present. Multitasking can be disrespectful and counterproductive.
- Ask more questions and offer fewer solutions. Don’t assume your role is always to be a problem-solver. Asking your team members to think more deeply about challenges encourages them to think critically and own their course of direction.
- Celebrate small Big victories are the byproduct of smaller successes. Taking time to celebrate the steps that lead to success boosts morale and reinforces the notion that every step matters.
The saying in the world of Navy SEALS special operations is “slow is smooth and smooth is fast.” Efforts to move quickly can slow down an operation. Being more deliberate will improve quality and focus while decreasing stress.
Author
Get our newsletter and digital focus reports
Stay current on learning and development trends, best practices, research, new products and technologies, case studies and much more.
