Several years ago, a vacation unexpectedly revealed something important. Then, I was moving through life at a relentless pace, hurrying even when there was no real need to. Reflection at the time created a great deal of self-awareness, and looking back, I can see how my realizations shaped the way I think about presence, leadership, and my own energy.
Many clients are facing a similar challenge, and the business climate does not assist. Talented, caring, high-capacity people are working to slow themselves down enough to truly listen, connect, and be present. Though the pace of life and work keeps accelerating, effectiveness is not found in moving faster, but rather in becoming more intentional.
Here is my story, written during a vacation in 2017:
I’ve been rushing a lot lately, even when there’s been no compelling need to. Given that I’ve spent 10 of the last 14 days on vacation, rushing might just be a bad habit.
When I looked up the synonyms for “rush,” I found many words that describe my demeanor. While I can’t say I’ve used all of these words, they sure describe many of my actions: hurry, dash, run, race, sprint, bolt, dart, fly, speed, zoom, scurry … and many more.
This “problem” came into my awareness precisely because I was on vacation. From the first day, I questioned why I still felt stressed, even though I was supposedly free to relax and enjoy myself. The thing I noticed was my language.
“I’ll hurry and shower (or eat, dress, pack – fill in the blank).”
“Let’s dash over there.”
“Speed up!”
And I noticed others’ responses:
“There’s no hurry, Andrea. Enjoy your lunch.”
“Take your time.”
“Relax. What’s the rush?”
But… did they mean it? Seriously, it’s easy for others to say “relax,” until my pace encroaches on their expectations. Did it?
At the time, I had two speeds: high and off. Off was usually reserved for sleep. High was for everything else. Yet not everything required that amount of energy expenditure. And, it depleted the enjoyment of simple pleasures.
Sound familiar? If you have a habit of pedal-to-the-metal and jackrabbit starts (and I’m not just talking about driving), what are the costs? Are you, like I was, burning precious fuel?
I learned that constant speed creates its own kind of distraction. When we rush, we often stop listening. We move quickly through conversations. We solve before understanding. We react instead of noticing.
After that vacation nine years ago, I began a deliberate practice of assessing my need for speed. Within a short time, I noticed more productive conversations, greater presence, and even more enjoyment in ordinary moments. I breathed more freely. Interestingly, I was still getting a tremendous amount done. It seems bittersweet that I didn’t embrace the lesson while the ocean breeze blew. But perhaps that’s how self-awareness works. Sometimes we only recognize our patterns once we finally become still enough to notice them.
What would it be like to intentionally practice a different pace? To be more thoughtful in meetings, more grounded in conversations, and more available to those around you? Could you embrace a mindset that views slowing down not as laziness or disengagement, but a doorway to better judgment, stronger relationships, and greater effectiveness? Reduce your speed, and consider it.
