The Value of DE-celerating

Much is written about the importance of being able to accelerate into new opportunities as they arise. The purpose of this post, though, is to invite you to consider the importance of DEcelerating, when possible - which is likely to be more doable than you realize.

Four reasons why becoming a skilled decelerator makes sense:

1. It gives you permission to be merely excellent, rather than 'perfect' when working on specific tasks and assignments. (The value-added of non-specific perfection is terribly over-rated, and ridiculously time-consuming.)


2. It's easier to see the subtleties of the political landscape and/or project complexities when you're not always pedal-to-the-metal.


3. It wastes less energy - Think how cars get better mileage when you ease off the throttle a bit - as with automobiles, as with people.


4. It shows you're more than a 'one-trick' pony - you definitely don't want to be seen as someone who views all situations as nails needing to be hammered. Different speeds enable a much wider range of responses.

The 5th, and perhaps most important reason to become more skilled at decelerating, though, is this:

Decelerating allows you to subsequently accelerate when the situation warrants it.

Whether it's recovering from a problem, cleaning up a mess, planning for your future, figuring out how to work better with your boss, or just because a way-cool new opportunity has come your way, being able to step up your game is a great something to have in your back pocket.

But you just can't do it if you're always running at full speed.