Slow Down to Speed Up

CHAPTER 1

Racing to Results

What’s Wrong with Going Too Fast?

In today’s high velocity, always-on business environment, leaders like you are expected to make incredibly rapid decisions, work at a breakneck pace, and achieve exceptional results—all without losing a moment’s time. Fast, faster, and faster yet. That’s the mandate from customers, colleagues, managers, business partners, boards, investors, and any number of other important stakeholders. Yet no individual, team, or organization can consistently and sustainably do its best when working at a frenetic pace or under constant, intense pressure.

Decisiveness is an essential leadership trait. Hasty decision-making? Not so much. Getting results quickly is important. Yet the pursuit of short-term ...