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
Jo Miller is a globally renowned authority on women’s leadership. She’s dedicated two decades to helping women advance into positions of influence by leveraging their leadership strengths. Based on her work with hundreds of thousands of women, she developed a pragmatic and powerful roadmap that guides women to become the leaders they aspire to be. Jo shares this proven process in her book Woman of Influence: 9 Steps to Build Your Brand, Establish Your Legacy, and Thrive (McGraw Hill, 2019.)
Jo is CEO of leadership development, consulting and research firm Be Leaderly. Learn more about her speaking engagements at www.JoMiller.com 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
Jo Miller is a globally renowned authority on women’s leadership. She’s dedicated two decades to helping women advance into positions of influence by leveraging their leadership strengths. Based on her work with hundreds of thousands of women, she developed a pragmatic and powerful roadmap that guides women to become the leaders they aspire to be. Jo shares this proven process in her book Woman of Influence: 9 Steps to Build Your Brand, Establish Your Legacy, and Thrive (McGraw Hill, 2019.)
Jo is CEO of leadership development, consulting and research firm Be Leaderly. Learn more about her speaking engagements at www.JoMiller.com and follow @Jo_Miller on Twitter.
