E-couragement: The Power of Pause...

“Nothing pains some people more than having to think.” Martin Luther King, Jr. Do  you know how to do it? Several mentors taught me about it early in my career. It made sense and worked. We practiced it after each sales appointment and completed workshop. It was efficient and effective, yielding important results. Working with my clients today, I realize how rare it is and how often it’s overlooked. That needs to change.

What is it? It’s the power of pause. After an important event we stop…reflect…ask questions…and debrief the encounter. We identify the valuable lessons from the experience. We discuss what went well and what could have gone better. We consider how to improve going forward. No matter what our titles or positions, we are first students of our trade and there’s an education available within the pause. I am grateful for this habit—it has served me well.

In today’s workplace, the power of pause is rarely utilized; sometimes it is even frowned upon. Instead, actions like pushing ahead, running faster, and producing more are revered. It’s the pause that allows the pushing, running, and producing to become more effective. There are industries that embrace the power of pause. In professional sports it’s common to stop after an event and watch game film—helping teams become more successful before moving to the next event. By stopping, reflecting, asking questions, and debriefing, they get better. Isn’t that what we’re after?

What makes for a powerful pause? What makes this time of debriefing effective? Ask questions and seek honest answers. The pause begins after you’ve completed a project, sales appointment, presentation, etc. Here are questions that can make your pause beneficial:

• What went well? Why did it work? How can we replicate it next time?
• What could have gone better? What caused that outcome? What role did I play in that? What needs to change for me to improve?
• What one thing will I do different or better next time to have greater impact?

The answers embedded in these questions are gold, yet we often neglect to dig for it. Resist the temptation to rush ahead to the next project or meeting. Ultimately, the power of pause is about gaining the understanding and insight that lead to greater professional and personal effectiveness. Embrace the power of pause—you and your organization will be better for it.

Leave your comments: How have you utilized the power of pause in your professional or personal life?