Power Of The Pause
One of the more undervalued and less frequently discussed behaviors of great leaders is the ability to pause— to step back and stay calm under pressure. Pausing is a critical yet often overlooked skill that allows a leader to block out the noise, chaos, and competing opinions of others and identify the best way forward.
Emotions tend to run high at work, especially during VUCA (volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous) times. The power of the pause is about recognizing your state, taking a deep breath, slowing down, and deciding how to proceed. It’s finding safety in the eye of the hurricane: a calm center where clarity emerges, enabling leaders to navigate the storm effectively.
Pausing activates the parasympathetic nervous system, countering the "fight-or-flight" response and shifting you from reactive to responsive behavior. Instead of making impulsive, emotion-driven decisions, a pause allows for calmer assessment and intentional action. This leads to better decisions, reduced biases, and more creative solutions.
In this article, you’ll learn to master the power of the pause with one of my favorite leadership tools --- the AHA Method.
Where can you start using the power of the pause in your leadership and life?