Slow Down To Speed Up

Every week, I dive into one topic to navigate and elevate your career. Today is Slowing Down to Achieve More.?

Being busy isn’t the same as making an impact. Here’s how slowing down can help you speed up.?

If you’re someone who feels the pressure to always be “on” - constantly producing, filling your calendar, and keeping up with every demand thrown your way - trust me, I get it.?

I’ve been there too, where every moment was accounted for, every meeting back-to-back, and any quiet time felt like it should be filled with “doing.”?

But here’s the catch: being busy isn’t the same as being impactful. And in fact, constantly doing can actually hold you back from the career and life you want.

Today, I want to talk about what it really means to be intentional and why slowing down strategically can be the key to greater success.

Part 1: The Myth of Constant Productivity

There’s a common belief in high-pressure workplaces that more is always better - more tasks completed, more meetings attended, more hours clocked. But as I often remind my clients (and myself), at a certain stage, value isn’t measured by how much you do, but by the impact of what you do.

Take a moment to look at your calendar. Are you prioritising the tasks that truly matter? Or are you filling every gap with low-impact work that’s simply adding to the noise? You might notice that time for strategic thinking, planning, and even meeting prep is missing. It’s in these moments of pause, when we intentionally step back, that real insights emerge.

Part 2: The Shift from “Doing” to Leading

Here’s a crucial realisation: in the early parts of our careers, our value lies in our ability to execute. We’re expected to produce results and demonstrate competence. But as we move up, our worth as leaders comes from our ability to step back, gain perspective, and influence. The most effective leaders spend less time in the weeds and more time seeing the big picture and aligning others to that vision.

If you’ve found yourself feeling stretched thin and wondering why you’re not advancing, this could be your “aha” moment. The solution isn’t to take on more; it’s to focus on fewer, high-impact actions that propel you and your team forward.

Part 3: Creating Space for Strategic Thinking

To create the time, energy and space for strategic thinking you need to bring more intentionality to your work. Here's some tips to start;

Block Time for Deep Work: Schedule weekly time for uninterrupted focus on high-priority projects. Use this time to think strategically, plan, and dive into meaningful work that aligns with your long-term goals.

Be Selective About Meetings: Not every meeting needs to be attended, and not every task deserves your time. Be deliberate about the commitments you make and ask yourself, “Does this activity serve my goals?”

Prepare for Important Conversations: Rushing from one task to the next often leads to reactive thinking. Instead, take a moment to prepare before key meetings. Frame your ideas, consider the outcomes you want, and go in with a clear intention.

Part 4: Bringing Intentionality into Your Personal Life

Intentionality doesn’t stop at work. Often, our personal lives reflect the same habits we hold in our careers. Are you filling your time with activities that drain you or spending time with people who inspire you? Just as in your career, being intentional in your personal life means making choices that reflect who you truly want to be.

For example:

Replace Scrolling with Self-Care: Swap your social media time for a morning walk, meditation, or journaling. Even a few minutes can make a difference in how you feel.

Prioritise Meaningful Connections: Spend time with people who support and encourage you, and take a step back from those who drain your energy.

My Challenge to You

If you’re ready to shift from being “busy” to being impactful, start small. Block out one hour this week for deep, strategic thinking. Set a goal to replace one low-impact activity with something meaningful. These small actions can lead to a major shift.

Here’s the thing: intentionality isn’t about doing less. It’s about making the choice to do what truly matters. As you make this shift, you’ll see a positive ripple effect across your work and your life.

Let’s get intentional, together.

Wishing you clarity, focus, and momentum.