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The pause before the next move
Why the most effective leaders create a moment of stillness before they act — and how you can practise it.
Most of us are trained to respond quickly. Fast replies, fast decisions, fast fixes. Yet the leaders people trust most often have one thing in common: they pause.
What the pause does
A pause creates room between what happens and what we do about it. In that room we notice our own reaction, consider the other person, and choose a response rather than a reflex.
A simple practice
- Breathe once before you answer a difficult question.
- Name to yourself what you are feeling.
- Ask one curious question before offering a view.
Try it for a week in your meetings. Notice what changes — in you, and in the room.