Take your first “pause” moment

Today I had the pleasure of joining my friend, Kevin Cashman, along with 300+ other friends and admirers, for Kevin’s book launch celebration, introducing the Pause Principle: Step Back to Lead Forward. The event was hosted by Navigate Forward, who each year introduces a promising new book to the Minneapolis community.

I can see why they selected the Pause Principle.  Kevin, an Executive Coach and Senior Partner at Korn/Ferry, has written a brilliant and significant book. So often in today’s world, does the pressure for short-term performance act as a deceptive and counterproductive lure, distracting our attention, keeping us from pausing to understand what’s really important.

Kevin’s message is paradoxical, but powerful. Instead of lurching ahead with the normal frenetic pace of hyperactivity, take a step back, slow down, take a deep breath: pause.

The language of pause is the question. Questions stop us in our tracks and make us think—altering the momentum, and engaging us in reflective thought. Sometimes, a question may be posed explicitly by others. Other times, the question is implicit in an opinion that differs from our own.  Sometimes, the question comes in a quiet voice, within ourselves.  The trick is to slow down enough to notice these questions, and let them enter into our conversation and our thought. Once we fully engage in this reflective process, we can consider new information, entertain new circumstances, and transform our leadership into something new, different and exciting.

I was very fortunate to receive an advance copy of the Pause Principle. For the past several months, I’ve introduced the practice of Pause into my daily life. And I can speak from first hand experience that it really works. I can point to a number of occasions where I intentionally slowed things down, simply by thinking, or speaking the word “pause.” And each time, I was glad I did. A new insight emerged. A new approach. An altered trajectory. An improved relationship. A joyful feeling of peace and tranquility.

I invite you to do this simple experiment.  Right now, wherever you are reading this, take your first pause moment.  Close your eyes.  Sit in silence.  Breathe.  See what pops into your head.  It could be the most important thing you do all day.