Leaderly Quote: Slowing Down is a Power Move
By Jo Miller
Sometimes you need to go slow to go fast.
“Slowing down is a power move,” says Amy Cuddy. “Just as speaking slowly, taking pauses and occupying space are related to power, so too is taking your time to figure out how to respond, and slowing down your decision-making process in high-pressure moments.”
I adore this quote. I sometimes get caught up in thinking that leadership is about doing more, moving faster, and driving toward the next achievement. But in listening to the closing chapters of Cuddy’s audiobook, Presence: Bringing Your Boldest Self to Your Biggest Challenges, I was reminded that my best decisions are rarely made when I’m rushing, responding out of anxiety, or reacting to the pressure of a stressful situation.
I was reminded that it’s hard to be thoughtful and bold when you’re being reactive. It’s OK to stop, and take time to figure out how to respond.
“Sleep on it,” advised Cuddy, and in doing so, improve the quality of decision-making. Slowing down is a power move.
Jo Miller
A leading authority on women’s leadership, Jo Miller is a sought-after, dynamic, and engaging speaker, delivering more than 70 speaking presentations annually to audiences of up to 1,200 women. Her expertise lies in helping women lead, climb, and thrive in their corporate careers. Jo has traveled widely in Europe, North America, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East to deliver keynotes and teach workshops for women’s leadership conferences, women’s professional associations, and Fortune 1000 corporate women’s initiatives. Jo is CEO of leadership development, consulting and research firm Be Leaderly. Learn more about her speaking engagements at www.JoMiller.net and follow @Jo_Miller on Twitter.
By Jo Miller
Sometimes you need to go slow to go fast.
“Slowing down is a power move,” says Amy Cuddy. “Just as speaking slowly, taking pauses and occupying space are related to power, so too is taking your time to figure out how to respond, and slowing down your decision-making process in high-pressure moments.”
I adore this quote. I sometimes get caught up in thinking that leadership is about doing more, moving faster, and driving toward the next achievement. But in listening to the closing chapters of Cuddy’s audiobook, Presence: Bringing Your Boldest Self to Your Biggest Challenges, I was reminded that my best decisions are rarely made when I’m rushing, responding out of anxiety, or reacting to the pressure of a stressful situation.
I was reminded that it’s hard to be thoughtful and bold when you’re being reactive. It’s OK to stop, and take time to figure out how to respond.
“Sleep on it,” advised Cuddy, and in doing so, improve the quality of decision-making. Slowing down is a power move.
Jo Miller
A leading authority on women’s leadership, Jo Miller is a sought-after, dynamic, and engaging speaker, delivering more than 70 speaking presentations annually to audiences of up to 1,200 women. Her expertise lies in helping women lead, climb, and thrive in their corporate careers. Jo has traveled widely in Europe, North America, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East to deliver keynotes and teach workshops for women’s leadership conferences, women’s professional associations, and Fortune 1000 corporate women’s initiatives. Jo is CEO of leadership development, consulting and research firm Be Leaderly. Learn more about her speaking engagements at www.JoMiller.net and follow @Jo_Miller on Twitter.
