Why Slowing Down Made Me More Effective

For most of my life, leadership looked like this.

Busy.
Responsible.
Always on.

My attention was everywhere.
What’s next.
Who needs me.
What pressure is coming.
What did I say that might need fixing later.

I stayed productive.
I stayed useful.
And I stayed tired.

I even ignored my own basic needs if stopping felt inconvenient to others.
That wasn’t discipline.
It was self-sacrifice on autopilot.

What changed everything was learning how to slow down and become present.
Not as a concept.
As a practice.

The practice is simple but not easy.

Notice when the mind races.
Pause.
Breathe.
Ask one question.

What is happening right now?

What can I hear.
What can I see.
What can I feel.

At first, those moments are brief.
The mind pulls you back into doing.

But with consistent practice, the shift is real.

I moved from busy and exhausted to calm and confident.
From heavy to light.
From forcing to ease.
From anxiety to trust.

The result surprised me.

I do better work with less effort.
I am more influential.
People connect with me more easily.
I listen more deeply.
I respond instead of react.

Presence did not slow me down.
It removed friction.

This is the work underneath leadership.
Not more effort.
Better orientation.

On March 4, I am hosting a free 90 minute live webinar called
Breathing Life Into Your Leadership.

It will be my full keynote on the Thoughtly Model and the Becoming Thoughtly Process, with space to explore how this shift changes impact.

For now, simply save the date.
Registration will open soon.

If you already know you are a yes, you can email or text me and I will add you to the early list.

In your corner,

Allison