Slow down to go fast
One thing at a time!
Written by Jess, Edited by Jenna
Sometimes I wish I could go back in time. Life without texts, emails, Slacks, and reels. No beeps or dings. Less interruptions. More focus.
Often, I catch myself doing way too many things at once. Writing an email while reading Slack. Watching TV while scrolling. Even texting while doing yoga (ha!). In today’s tech-driven world, focusing on just one task at a time is challenging. Not to mention, trying to keep up with the constant flow of information feels overwhelming.
Recently, I was leading an interview group session, and the MBA students were practicing answers to some of the most dreaded interview questions. Tell me about a time you failed. Tell me about the last time you received constructive criticism. And of course, the most dreaded, what’s your biggest weakness? The questions you hope aren’t asked in an interview.
One student started to tell a story. It was about needing to slow down to avoid making a mistake. Almost instantly, another student lit up, saying it resonated - it was her struggle too. I sat quietly, watching this moment unfold. Clearly, I wasn’t alone.
After their interaction, I told them about one of my favorite mantras: “slow down to go fast.”
A mantra I say to myself constantly. Slow down and read the entire email. Slow down to respond in the most comprehensive and empathetic way. Slow down and follow all of the directions. Slow down and gather all of the information. Slow down and think - do I need to respond to this right now, or can it wait? Often, it can wait.
There’s no doubt that slowing down is hard in today’s world. We’re constantly pulled in multiple directions, yet our brains aren’t wired to do several things at once. Research clearly shows that focusing on one thing at a time leads to higher-quality work, greater productivity, more creativity, and less stress—all things we’re striving for more than ever.
So the next time you rush to respond or do a task quickly just to cross it off your never-ending to-do list, remind yourself… slow down to go fast!
Next step:
Think about one way you can slow down to go fast this week.
Reflect on what changed when you took a breath and slowed down?