Leading Without Reacting: How to Create Space Before Making Decisions

"Silence isn’t empty. It’s full of answers." – Unknown

It’s 2 AM, and Everything Just Broke. What Do You Do?

Your phone rings. The system is down. Alerts are firing. Panic sets in. You have two choices: react immediately, throw out a quick fix, and hope for the best—or pause, assess, and make a decision that actually solves the problem.

The best IT leaders don’t just react. They create space to think, assess, and make the best decision—not just the fastest one.

One of the biggest frustrations my team voiced was that they didn’t have time to implement the best, long-term solutions because leadership never gave them time to breathe. I’ve had C-level and senior leaders stand over my shoulder and say things like, 'Do you know what this is costing us?' or 'This is costing us X dollars for every minute we're down.' But what they’ve always failed to understand is that if you give my team a few minutes or hours to actually find the solution instead of just patching the issue to 'make it work,' we won’t end up in this situation again. They were constantly told, “just make it work” instead of being given the space to fix the issue at its root. As a leader, you have to learn to make space or run interference for your teams as well as yourself. Stop for a second, breathe, assess the situation. Bring your best argument to senior leaders that your team needs time to truly fix the issue, and in the long run, the organization will be better off and won’t end up in this situation again.

Too often, IT leaders feel the pressure to move fast, give an instant answer, or jump in to fix things themselves. But real leadership isn’t about immediate action. It’s about clarity, patience, and ensuring that every decision moves the team forward, not just past the crisis.

Why Reactivity is a Leadership Trap

Emotional Responses Lead to Short-Sighted Decisions – Making choices under pressure often leads to quick fixes instead of long-term solutions.

Constant Reacting Creates Burnout – If you’re always in firefighting mode, you never have time to think strategically. You’re not leading, you’re surviving.

Reactive Leaders Build Reactive Teams – If you’re always rushing decisions, your team will adopt the same high-stress, quick-fix mentality, often at the expense of quality work.

The Power of the Pause: How to Lead with Intention

The best IT leaders create space between stimulus and response. Instead of reacting on instinct, they build habits that allow them to pause, process, and respond with clarity. Here’s how:

• Step Back Before Responding – When faced with an urgent issue, ask: Do I need to act immediately, or is this an emotional reaction? Most problems don’t require an instant response, even if they feel like they do.
• Focus on Data, Not Just Noise – Before making a decision, gather facts. Are you responding to what’s actually happening, or just reacting to pressure?
• Breathe, Observe, Decide – Use the 10-second rule. Take a breath, step back, and ask yourself: What is the smartest way forward, not just the fastest?
• Empower Your Team to Handle Issues Without You – If every fire comes to you, you’re the bottleneck. Train your team to assess, act, and make decisions confidently.
• Know When to Let Something Sit – Not every problem needs solving immediately. Some issues work themselves out or reveal better solutions over time.

IT Leadership is About Presence, Not Panic

The leaders who make the biggest impact aren’t the ones who react the fastest. They are the ones who create space for smarter decisions.

If you find yourself constantly reacting, take a step back and ask: What would happen if I didn’t answer right away? What would a clearer, more intentional response look like?

The best IT leaders don’t just keep the lights on. They lead with clarity, not chaos.

Are you leading with intention, or just reacting to the noise? Drop your thoughts below.

Until next time,

Jason