In today’s fast-paced, frantic and frenzied world, there’s one thing above all else that leaders must do if they want to improve their attention, performance, relationships and—most of all—stress levels. Simply put, the secret to being a better leader is to have the discipline of pausing.
Pausing to gain focused attention. You can’t give your best when you’re doing more than one thing at a time. Many of my clients brag about how great they are at multitasking, but what they can’t brag about is being able to give the task at hand the attention it deserves . Just marking things off your to-do list doesn’t make you effective or productive. Great leaders have the discipline of pausing so they can focus their attention and concentration, and the result is excellent work .
Pausing to improve performance. Most people think in order to perform better you have to go faster and quicker to get there before your competition. But I’ve found that doing something quickly doesn’t mean you’re doing it well—in fact, the opposite is more often the case. The best way to improve your leadership, especially if you want stay ahead of your competition, is to discipline yourself to pause. Take the time to stop and think about what you are doing. The discipline of pausing will help you achieve the quality of work you want for yourself.
Pausing to connect more deeply. Making deep connections and developing purposeful relationships take time and discipline. Relationships are all about investing yourself in another person, and that’s not a process you can rush. Relationships need time to grow and develop. The best leaders don’t settle for superficial connections—they master the discipline of pausing so they can dive in deep for more meaningful connections.
Pausing to calm yourself. Business is stressful, leadership is demanding and many of us go through the day without a break. But no one is going to give you that break; you have to find the time to give it to yourself. To be the best leader you can be, you need to have the discipline of pausgin, because it is in those pauses that you can manage your stress and give your mind and body the boost in needs in this demanding world.
The discipline of pausing isn’t complicated, but it represents a profound concept that can enable you to gain more power and a better ability to deal with the things you can’t control. Master the strategic pause—once you’ve learned to do it well, it will have a significant impact on your ability to lead yourself and others.
Lead from within: The discipline of pausing is about the one absolute power we have as leaders. It is about becoming more without having to do more.
#1 N A T I O N A L B E S T S E L L E R
The Leadership Gap
What Gets Between You and Your Greatness
After decades of coaching powerful executives around the world, Lolly Daskal has observed that leaders rise to their positions relying on a specific set of values and traits. But in time, every executive reaches a point when their performance suffers and failure persists. Very few understand why or how to prevent it.
Additional Reading you might enjoy:
- 12 Successful Leadership Principles That Never Grow Old
- A Leadership Manifesto: A Guide To Greatness
- How to Succeed as A New Leader
- 12 of The Most Common Lies Leaders Tell Themselves
- 4 Proven Reasons Why Intuitive Leaders Make Great Leaders
- The One Quality Every Leader Needs To Succeed
- The Deception Trap of Leadership
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Of Lolly’s many awards and accolades, Lolly was designated a Top-50 Leadership and Management Expert by Inc. magazine. Huffington Post honored Lolly with the title of The Most Inspiring Woman in the World. Her writing has appeared in HBR, Inc.com, Fast Company (Ask The Expert), Huffington Post, and Psychology Today, and others. Her newest book, The Leadership Gap: What Gets Between You and Your Greatness has become a national bestseller.