“The race is not always to the swift.” – Ecclesiastes 9:11

Our modern world teaches us that fast is best.  We have so many time pressures on us that the sensible choice is to be fast. Who gets hired? A fast performer.  Who gets fired? The slow-poke.

I believe that the effective leader must understand that speed is a virtue among others.  When the push for speed diminishes quality, examine the strategy.  Fast but with errors? Or slow and accurate?

I once hired an artist to create a stained glass window for my home, in the image of a swan (I won many points from my wife for this!)  I asked the artist how long the project would take. She told me, that she had to find the inspirational vision.  In other words, “don’t pressure me.”   The artist needs to take the amount of time that is right for the job. Her finished work was worth the wait.

Are you an effective time manager in your work?  You may already watch your time, perform the highest function work first, and eliminate distractions.  Your time management choices help you be more effective.

If you have already been watching your time, you have probably gained extra time on your schedule.  You don’t interrupt your work with low priority choices, you follow a discipline of doing the most important work first – you have become a more effective worker.  Add the considered luxury of going slow on some projects.  Some decisions require reflection and thought. Whenever you work more like an artist, and less like a technician, you will value the calm reflection that slow consideration can give you.

I am not saying, “Avoid making decisions.”  You’ve already put time pressure into the performance standard of your work. Time management may already be part of your DNA – so don’t fret over this factor. Some of your work will require extra insight, more preparation, and more consultation with the people of your team.

Dare to go slow, but always choose to be effective.  You may be limiting your contribution if you force every workplace decision into the narrow ethic of “do it now.” Do not make these choices on impulse; invest the moments of strategic action with all of your knowledge, intuition, and leadership gumption.

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What fills you with joy? send me your short answer to drsteve@mycareerimpact.com

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Discover your greatness.