THE ART OF GOING SLOW IN ORDER TO GO FASTER

Not long ago, one of our Chinese Meta-Coaches, Wei Yao, whose English name is Will, wrote and asked me the following question about going slower.

“In lectures you've given, you often mentioned ‘slower is faster’. It seems very different from what we are talking in business, which is often like "winning by being fast", especially in high tech industry. So what is your idea about "slow down"? Why do you say "slower is faster"? Is it only applicable in coaching, or is it also applicable in business and our life?” Thanks. Will

What Will brings up here actually plays a critical role in coaching given that the quality of your coaching is the quality of your listening. And the quality of your listening rests upon your ability to slow yourself down, slow your internal dialogue down, and slow down your need or compulsion to “do something, quick!” When you are going fast inside you r mind and emotions, you will feel pressure and impatience to do something. And while that’s going on, you will not be fully present to your client. And that means you will not be truly, actively, and fully listening.