The Power of Slowness

Summer starts in just a few short weeks, at least for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere. Like many, the sun and warmth encourage me to step back and adopt a more relaxed pace. This time of year, Nature invites us to slow down. This invitation offers a powerful lesson on the benefits of working at a measured, more thoughtful…yes, a slower pace. ?

This concept flies in the face of the current work culture in the U.S., which equates speed with efficiency and “success.” Our employees are encouraged to work longer hours and to “give it 150%.” People who take all their time off or attempt to create more balance in their lives are often viewed by management as having a poor work ethic. ?In fact, the Pew Research Center reported in August of 2023 that 4 out of 10 employees in the U.S. don’t take all their time off. ?Unfortunately, hourly and shift workers don’t often receive any paid time off at all.

This is hurting us, as research in March of 2024 shows that U.S. workers are experiencing higher levels of anxiety than ever before. Obviously, people who are anxious and stressed cannot be at their best, either at work or home.

We know that when assembly lines were introduced, workers began to experience more depression . The drive to create more in less time introduced more fragility within systems, and they became less resilient as a result. Today, we’re seeing the damage caused by this mindset, combined with the ongoing impacts of the pandemic and other worldwide disruptions.

Urgency Creates Waste

Urgency is sometimes necessary but almost always creates waste. An overdeveloped sense of urgency, often created by pressure “from above,” leads to hasty decisions, misaligned priorities, and inefficient resource use. A manager, for example, might create a sense of urgency to achieve a short-term goal that reflects well on their department. This artificial rush then pulls the focus away from more impactful long-term projects.

Manufactured or unneeded urgency wastes time and energy and distracts from what really matters. Just as turning a faucet too high causes water to overflow, trying to speed up processes beyond their natural capacity leads to waste and inefficiency.

Interestingly, impatience exacerbates this issue. Yet, this quality is often encouraged, if not praised, as it’s viewed as an ability to move fast. One study of over 10,000 people in leadership roles showed that over 70% of top management viewed themselves as impatient . What is being left behind when we move so quickly? People, resources, and good ideas are left in the dust when urgency and impatience take over. ???

Embracing Slow Variables: The Farmer and His Soil

Farmers understand, perhaps more than any of us, the importance of slow variables. The quality of their harvest depends on the health of the soil. Whether producing an active crop or laying fallow, soil requires constant attention and care over many years. Farmers may attempt short-term fixes to achieve better results, but results always diminish in quantity and quality without a long-term focus. ?

Time and again, the teams consistently beating their goals are the ones that value slow variables.

A seemingly endless burnout cycle has taken its toll on individuals, organizations, and, of course, our planet. As a result, we’re seeing more leaders embrace the concepts behind slowness and introduce slow variables into the equation. That’s not because someone like me thought it was a good idea. It’s because data shows that the highest-performing teams focus on more than just productivity, profit, and innovation.

Examples of slow variables include:

• Trust
• Authentic relationships ?
• Diversity
• Healthy culture
• Psychological safety
• Shared higher purpose

When leaders nurture slow variables , they create an environment where innovation and productivity can thrive sustainably. These resilient teams are driven by purpose rather than activity, shifting their strategies to align with their organization's higher goals and the changing external environment. And that lays the foundation for adaptive, resilient organizations, not to mention healthier, happier people.

?How Slowness Helps Improve Resilience

When we slow down, we gain the ability to observe and understand the complex interconnections within our systems. This systemic thinking is crucial for identifying and addressing the underlying causes of challenges rather than merely treating symptoms.

Just as a farmer tends to the soil, businesses must cultivate their internal environment to support long-term success. This involves fostering a culture of trust, promoting authentic relationships, and encouraging healthy collaboration. By focusing on these foundational elements, organizations can build a resilient structure capable of withstanding external shocks and evolving.

To harness the benefits of moving slowly, businesses must also create pause points. These moments of reflection allow leaders and teams to step back, evaluate their progress, and adjust their strategies. They need to place value on going slowly, actually stopping from time to time.

Taking Time to See Patterns

Slowing down helps to clarify thinking and reveal the interconnectedness within the organization. It invites leaders to step back and observe how dynamics flow through the system and how relationships form and strengthen. By taking time to pause, we can see patterns that might otherwise be missed in the rush of daily activities. We can take a holistic view that is essential for developing adaptive strategies that support long-term resilience without causing further disruption.

Let’s remember that time doesn’t flow uniformly. (Authors Diana Hunt and Pam Hait provide incredible insights into this paradigm in their book, The Tao of Time.) There are moments when time seems to move slowly, allowing for careful planning and reflection. At other times, it seems to speed up, facilitating swift action.

Recognizing and adapting to these rhythms can enhance organizational effectiveness. By slowing down, businesses can better align their actions with the natural flow of time, ensuring that efforts are directed where they are most needed and effective—now and in the future.

Just like the high-performance teams we mentioned earlier, organizations outperform others not by focusing on going faster, but by going slower.

?Honoring the power of slowness generates resilience and greater well-being for us as individuals, our organizations, our communities, and our planet.

?How can you move more slowly throughout your daily life? What results have you seen when you embrace slow variables?

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