Three executives I work with currently embrace the “go slow to go fast” mantra. These leaders know they need to slow down to meet others where they are, listen with more empathy, and notice “what’s not being said” in meetings. Wanting to slow down to build relationships – and, in turn, get MORE done – is clear. Putting it into practice isn’t so easy.
For these three (and many other tech) leaders, slowing down has had a negative ring to it. Unfortunately, jumping ahead and going too fast have resulted in their directs and peers feeling intimidated, dismissed, and/or not having the space to make decisions.
Observing yourself, making what has been unconscious to be conscious, is at the core of “go slow to go fast.” It not only helps you learn a skill, but it also helps you maintain the skill and self-regulate over time. Slowing down allows for “thinking your way into new behaviors.”
Here is one great example of how to “go slow to go fast”:
Get on the observation deck and notice more of your own behavior and of your colleagues in a Zoom or IRL meeting. The tendency is to be into the CONTENT, the WHAT. Understandable because you have goals to meet and decisions to make. However, the PROCESS – the HOW underlying what is being said – is just as valuable. Like:
- Who is the ultimate decision-maker in the room?
- What is their motivation to make the decision?
- How do they normally make decisions?
- Will they make a different decision today based on the power dynamics in the room?
- What kind of mood are other folks in?
- What is not being brought out and not being said that should be?
- Should I say it or text a colleague to bring it up?
And so on! There are tons of things going on under the surface! And a lot to track. Here’s a way to do it:
One leader I work with goes “old school” and takes notes in a 5×7 notebook. They started this 2 years ago because it helped them be less distracted and attuned to what was in front of them. LOVE THIS!
To better delineate between CONTENT and PROCESS, I challenged the leader to take it a step further and use a version of the “Left Hand Column” technique (originally created by Chris Argyris).
On the right side of the little binder, do what you normally do: write notes about content, data, decisions, action steps, etc. On the left side, write down what typically isn’t conscious to you, what’s under the surface that may be contributing to getting to the goal…things like I mentioned above: mood, motivation, power, feelings (yours and others).
Try it and see how “go slow to go fast” works for you.
What does “go slow to go fast” mean for you?
