North Idaho Alliance Women of Impact: Slow down — this is not a racetrack!
Marilee Wallace
To get home my drive takes me past some residential neighborhoods and lately I noticed yard signs popping up. Not “vote for” signs you’d expect nearing an election date but instead bright yellow “Slow Down. This is not a racetrack!” signs scattered along curb sides and grassy swales. At first, I was cautious as the signs ask, then as more and more sprung up, a bit irritated. I’ve lived in my home for years and I know how to drive in my neighborhood and am well aware of the speed limit. I did that “new people” under my breath. Then I laughed at myself. Clearly, I was over-reacting driving along my route. It then occurred to me, maybe these signs had more to say:
After some research, and thanks to an insightful article by Jessica Stillman with Inc. com, I found there is a business trend for slowing down. It’s called “Strategic Slowness” and Professor Bob Sutton, Stanford University Management expert, list times you should slow down in business and why:
1. Making big, irreversible decisions. Sutton acknowledges he's not the first business thinker to urge leaders to go slower when it comes to making big, irreversible decisions. In his 2015 shareholder letter, Jeff Bezos made a distinction between "one way" and "two way" doors. One-way doors are consequential and irreversible or nearly irreversible things where if you walk through and don't like what you see on the other side, you can't get back to where you were before. "If you've got a one-way door decision to make, take your time,” Bezos urges.
2. Solving complicated problems. Researchers found that people with higher scores in general intelligence and deep-thinking ability did solve easy tasks faster. But they also found that these people solved difficult problems more slowly and with greater accuracy. The reason for the greater accuracy was that the longer decision times prevented them from prematurely leaping to flawed conclusions.
3. Doing creative work. Skilled leaders know that efficient creativity can sometimes be an oxymoron. There is no quick and easy path to creativity.
4. Connecting with customers. Sutton points out that when it comes to building relationships with customers speed and satisfaction are often inversely related. He points to a Dutch supermarket that created "slow lanes" for elderly customers who wanted to take their time and chat as a standout example of this principle.
5. Enjoying the good things in life. Sutton cites psychologist Fred Bryant, who explains that slowing down to extend, enjoy and swish around positive experiences in your mind is linked to better relationships, mental and physical health, and creative problem-solving. There are savoring rituals you can add to your days to encourage the slow enjoyment of simple pleasures.
So, Slow down. This is not a racetrack!
NIA is open for all women in North Idaho who are wanting to learn and connect. Our only goal is to empower women to thrive and positively impact community.
Next up: W.O.W Words of Wisdom (from wise women) Do you know someone that fits this? Send them our way! marilee@theniallaince.com
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Marilee Wallace, IOM, president/CEO of the North Idaho Alliance Women of Impact. The Women of Impact Leadership Roundtable meets once a month for a nine-month series, and we base our monthly agenda on the word IMPACTED. She can be reached at marilee@theniallaince.com.
