The Slow movement, which I understand to have started as a response to the fast-food culture, has quickly grown and taken on many different forms. Carl Honore provides a solid introduction to the international slow movement and some of the ways it has manifested in his book “In Praise of Slowness: Challenging the Cult of Speed.�
One outgrowth of the slow movement that I find particularly interesting and applicable to the worldchanging community is Slow Leadership. As Dave Gray says on his blog Communication Nation, Slow Leadership is
"focused on helping leaders slow down and reflect so they can act intelligently. Slowing down can help you focus on building the right relationships and the right momentum, so you get where you want to go, while retaining enough bandwidth to enjoy the journey."
All too often leaders behave as if they MUST respond quickly to situations. This leads to not taking the time to establish the necessary relationships and understanding. I see this across politics, business and social domains.
The web site slowleadership.org provides thoughtful commentary for leaders to help them slow down and become more effective. Here are two items that stood out as I read through the site:
From a post title Two (Vital) Little Words:
“If more managers would slow down, think for a moment, and then express their gratitude for what others do for them, the world would be a happier and more productive place.�
From a post titled Actors, Reactors and Reflectors:
"Business is full of Actors, both in the sense of people taking action and in the sense of people playing a part. It is also replete with Reactors: people who wait for something to happen, then jump to some conclusion and act upon it. What it needs—and sadly lacks—are sufficient Reflectors: people who note what is happening, then stand back to think about it and work out an appropriate course before doing anything."
No doubt, there are times when speed is essential. But I would suggest that, more often than we like to believe, time is available to develop ideas more fully before committing to a course.
What aspects of your life provide you with leadership opportunities? How can the concept of slow leadership alter the influence you have on others in a positive way? Do you know of any great leaders that exhibit this behavior?
