In our go, go, go, world, it can seem like the only pace is faster.
We sprint and scurry. We dart and dash. We hurry with a sense of urgency. We rush. We go all out to push the speed limits.
At times, it’s crucial that we put the pedal to the metal, but not all the time.
Some pursuits are sprints, some are middle distance races, some are marathons, and some are ultramarathons.
The different distances require different strategies, tactics, and pacing.
Faster isn’t always the best pacing choice. It’s required for sprints, but in longer pursuits, faster can leave us completely gassed well before we reach the finish line.
Sometimes, pushing the pace in the short term leaves us grinding to a crawl in the long term.
We can be moving so fast that important things—things that if we noticed them would dramatically influence our decisions and actions—whiz by in a blur without grabbing our attention. If we were moving at a slower pace, we might notice these things and have the opportunity to process and respond accordingly.
Pacing matters when it comes to things like noticing, listening, earning attention, connecting, understanding, earning trust, enrolling, learning, sense-making, collaborating, communicating, innovating, and more.
There is a proper pace at which to do some things, and it’s not always faster.
Set the pace to one that will best support you, your team, and those you serve in achieving your respective and collective goals and change the pace as needed.
