Why Leaders Need to Slow Down and Be Patient

The Wall Street Journal recently called impatience “our modern curse.” While that assessment might be a bit harsh, the inability to be patient is far more common than it once was.

In fact, for many, it’s become downright problematic.

Little wonder. In an era of technology-enabled instant gratification, having to wait for even a few moments can induce anxiety or even feel torturous. It’s why websites are ranked, in part, based on how quickly they load.

A 2023 study of more than 28,000 people cited in the Journal article confirmed this. It found that people’s moods “got steadily worse every minute they sat doing nothing.”

In the business world, where for decades the vogue has been to fail fast and a company’s actual worth is inextricably tied to its quarterly financial results, patience isn’t prioritised. Whether it’s working through a process, taking the time to write a thoughtful email, employing a slower, more deliberate approach to decision-making, or just having to wait to see an impact, seemingly anything requiring more time is valued less than getting things done and hitting targets.

Except that shouldn’t be the case. Leaders can realise multiple benefits by slowing down and waiting to see how plans and strategies mature.

The advantages of patience as a leader

“The virtue of patience is that you allow yourself to let go. You surrender. You go with the flow,” says Frédérique Thiébaut, an EZRA Executive Coach. “Some of the benefits I see in a more patient approach are the ability to be more innovative and more creative, and to strengthen intuition.”

Melissa Fanaro, Vice President, Americas Coach Network, at EZRA, points out that patience can provide opportunities for leaders to engage more stakeholders and bring additional people into the decision-making process.

“When you slow things down, you can open the doors and get input from your team. That creates inclusivity and allows more people to contribute in a non-biased way.”

In addition to benefiting individual leaders, Frédérique insists patience is important for businesses, especially as they strive to avoid repeating costly missteps.

“I’ve seen so many companies that jump from one project to another without taking the time to understand and comprehend the outcomes.”

Balancing patience with action

While patience is a virtue, it’s true that it needs to be balanced with the demands of an ever-accelerating world. In addition to making thoughtful, informed decisions, leaders often need to act reactively and make quick decisions for which they don’t have all the information.

Viewed from this perspective, the skill leaders need to develop is the ability to effectively recognise those times when patience should be prioritised over speed.

“In high-growth, fast-moving organisations where stuff needs to get done, sometimes speed trumps patience, because there is a hesitancy to focus on the long-term,” Melissa says, adding that, in any organisation, there are likely to be leaders whose primary focus is on getting things done.

One of the most important times when patience needs to come into play is in development. It can take time to develop a skill, grow a knowledge base, or gain experience. And that time—and the self-awareness that accompanies it—is a necessity for personal and professional growth.

“There’s something to be said for how people are impatient when they are in more junior-level roles. From their perspective, things can look a lot easier than they really are,” Melissa says. “You must earn that time. You really do have to invest in your future and your development.”

Sometimes, however, the speed versus patience debate comes down to whether the organisational culture and individual leader are the right fit.

“There are some people who have a pretty strong sense of patience and presence and mindfulness, but they might work in a company culture where those traits aren’t valued,” says Frédérique, adding that sometimes the best thing for the leader is to find an opportunity elsewhere that’s a better fit for them.

“Businesses should pay more attention to the importance of patience,” she says. “If they did, they would find that slowing down could help them in so many areas. For example, financial returns, employee retention, sustainability, and social impacts. Basically, all the things that matter in society today.”

For more leadership and workplace insights, check out the EZRA Asks podcast on most major podcast platforms.