LEADERS KNOW THE POWER OF THE PAUSE
Several Incidents this week reminded me of the importance and significance of the pause.
First, the manager of one of my leadership coaching clients emailed me to set up a Zoom call. He discussed with me his frustration about my client’s inability or unwillingness to pause during the workday. My client, he noted, has a wonderful work ethic and is truly devoted to the organization.
However, he said, my client often goes a mile a minute at work, moving from one project or assignment to the next without pausing to reflect, to ponder or to truly think.
For my client, the manager said, accomplishment equated getting things done – the more this woman could finish in one day, the better! As I listened, I thought about David Allen’s famous book, “Getting Things Done.”
Allen’s book was published in 2001. In the book, Allen presents his personal productivity method that focuses on helping managers and leaders accomplish more than they are accomplishing presently by clearing their minds and brains and keeping track of priorities in an organized external system. Then he advocates people break things down into actionable, tangible steps with specific time frames.
Allen’s system has been helpful for millions of people. That’s why his book is still selling well on the web and why leaders know his name and system so well.
However, getting things done is not the end all and be all of leadership. Frequently, it is important – even crucial – for leaders to take a break, to pause amidst a busy day, and to think about several things:
-How is this day going for me?
-Am I really devoting my time today to my highest priorities?
-Is this the best use of my time right now?
-What am I not focusing on today that needs attention?
-Which team member truly needs my attention today?
-How can I bring the greatest value to this upcoming conversation or meeting?
The second thing that occurred this week reminding me of the power of the pause was a daily leadership email I received from Harvard Business School. This week, one of the daily HBR Management Tip of the Day editions showcased an excerpt from Steven Morris’s “Five Questions to Help Your Team Make Better Decisions.”
Morris suggests that leaders pause and ask these questions before making important decisions at work:
What if we did nothing? Consider the potential risks and benefits of inaction. Ask yourself whether immediate action is truly necessary or if more information is needed.
What options did we miss? Biases can blind you to alternatives. Challenge assumptions and seek fresh perspectives. Have you really explored all viable paths? Engaging different viewpoints can reveal solutions you hadn’t considered.
How will we measure success? Define clear goals and track progress to stay on course. Success should be measurable – what benchmarks will indicate you made the right choice? Establishing clear performance indicators early ensures accountability and direction.
Can we reverse this decision? If possible, build in flexibility to adapt and pivot if needed. Some decisions are final, while others allow room for adjustments down the road. Consider the cost and effort required to change course and prepare contingency plans.”
Please remember to pause and ask yourself important questions during each day. If you need assistance, share your important questions with a trusted confidante. Sometimes that confidante can help us see things in a new light, adopt a different perspective or gain greater clarity about a particular issue.
Do not settle on pausing and reflecting once daily. Get in the habit of making time – not having time – to raise these thoughtful questions for yourself multiple times each workday.
-You will be more productive
-You will be more purposeful
-You will be more effective
If you believe this content would resonate with a friend or colleague, please feel free to forward it along!
-Larry