“Massimo, I feel like I’m chasing something all the time… but I don’t even know what anymore.”
A client said this recently, and I knew exactly what he meant.
We live in a culture that celebrates speed: faster results, faster decisions, faster growth.
But here’s the paradox: the faster we go, the more we risk losing sight of what matters.
We often confuse movement with progress.
And in doing so, we sacrifice not just our focus but our leadership presence, clarity, and well-being.
The price of always rushing
In the Harvard Business Review article How to Give Yourself More Space to Think, Megan Reitz and John Higgins share findings from an ongoing global survey of over 1,500 mid and senior-level managers:
- 39% say they are unable to pause during the day to reflect on how to plan and prioritize.
- 59% describe meetings as “rushed.”
- 37% call them “distracted.”
- 29% feel unable to take the time needed to consider and respond thoughtfully to what others say.
These numbers paint a clear picture: we’re moving fast, but thinking shallow.
And that undermines not only our focus but also the depth of our leadership.
A Swedish tradition that invites you to lead differently
In Sweden, a coffee break is more than just a quick hit of caffeine.
Fika, as it’s called, is a moment to pause, connect, and slow down not alone at your desk, but in the company of others.
It’s not about productivity hacks or efficiency.
Fika is a cultural ritual that reflects a deeper ideal: taking time to appreciate life’s smaller joys.
Done right, fika is believed to boost happiness at work, enhance wellbeing, and paradoxically improve productivity.
It’s not the coffee or the pastry that makes the difference.
It’s the intention behind it.
Companies in Sweden often build fika into the rhythm of the workday, knowing that when people step away together, they return more engaged, focused, and human.
We don’t need to be Swedish to adopt this mindset.
What we need is the courage to challenge the culture of busyness and to lead ourselves and others through more presence, not more pressure.
Five strategies to slow down and lead better
1️⃣ Name your internal speed limit
Ask yourself: When do I feel most rushed? Is it in meetings? In decision-making? In responding to others?
Pinpointing your personal speed triggers helps you regain control.
2️⃣ Build “fika moments” into your week
No, you don’t need cinnamon buns (although they help).
Just create 15 minutes a day where you step away from urgency no phone, no screen, no to do list.
A space to breathe and reset.
3️⃣ Practice mindful transitions
Instead of jumping from one task to the next, take 60 seconds in between to pause, breathe, and ask:
What do I need to bring to this next moment?
This small ritual boosts presence and intention.
4️⃣ Challenge false urgency
Just because something feels urgent doesn’t mean it is.
Pause and ask: Is this really urgent? Or am I reacting out of habit or fear?
5️⃣ Start with stillness, not strategy
Next time you’re facing a big decision, resist the urge to dive in immediately.
Take five minutes to do nothing. Let the noise settle.
Often, the answer becomes clearer when we stop looking for it.
Key takeaway? Slowness is a leadership choice
When you slow down with intention, you don’t lose momentum you build better direction.
You lead with more presence.
You communicate with more clarity.
You make choices with more depth.
Now it’s your turn:
Where in your life are you moving too fast and what might it cost you?
Choose one area. Try one of the strategies above. And observe what changes.
? Ready to build a slower, stronger kind of leadership?
Book a free, no obligation 45 minute coaching session to explore how presence, focus, and intentional slowness can transform your leadership.
Wishing you a slower, wiser week ahead.
Massimo ?
