Earlier this year I caught myself saying “I can’t think that slowly”. The truth was I couldn’t pay attention for very long. I was easily distracted when listening to others. This was a big wake up call for me, particularly as I’d chosen my word for this year to be focus. 

My solution was to build my ability to focus through conscious practice. 

We live in a world that rewards speed. Quick responses. Full calendars. Fast decisions. Constant action. 

But speed and progress are not always the same thing. Sometimes, the fastest way forward is to slow down. 

Johann Hari’s Stolen Focus explores what happens when distraction fragments our attention. Justin Zorn and Leigh Marz’s Golden reminds us that silence creates space for clarity, connection and deeper listening. 

Digby Scott’s work on being Unhurried brings this into leadership, while Bryan Whitefield’s Team Think reinforces the value of using the collective intelligence of a team. 

When the pressure is on, our instinct is often to accelerate. But this is usually when we most need to create space—to pause long enough to ask: 

• What are we missing? 
• What assumptions are we making? 
• Who haven’t we listened to yet? 
• What might become possible if we gave this a little more space? 

This is self-leadership in action. Before we lead others through uncertainty, we need to notice the energy we bring into the room. Urgency can be contagious—but so can calm, curiosity and clarity. 

Slowing down doesn’t mean avoiding decisions or delaying progress. It means creating the conditions for better progress. 

A thoughtful pause can reduce rework. A better question can uncover an assumption. Listening to another perspective can reveal an opportunity we hadn’t considered. 

Sometimes, speeding up isn’t about doing more, faster. It’s about making wiser choices earlier. 

Productivity has always mattered to me. I still believe action matters; sometimes action even precedes clarity. But we need to act with consideration and intent, rather than being pulled along by distraction or the latest shiny idea.