Higher Performance Insights | The Value of the Pause
In the hectic swirl of life and leadership, President Abraham Lincoln uncovered a powerful tool—pausing. Faced with the high stakes of the Civil War in 1863, Lincoln penned a heated letter to General Gordon Meade, who had missed a crucial chance to capture Confederate General Robert E. Lee. Yet, instead of sending this scathing rebuke, Lincoln hid the letter away and never delivered it.
This moment wasn’t Lincoln's first encounter with the perils of impulsiveness. Previously, a rashly written letter had escalated to a near-duel with politician James Shields, a situation defused only at the last moment. These experiences distilled in Lincoln a profound lesson: the value of the pause.
Lincoln’s practice of writing "hot letters," only to shelve them, evolved from these near catastrophes. It was a deliberate strategy to temper immediate reactions, allowing space for calmer, more collected responses. This method of pausing helped him navigate the tremendous pressures of his presidency without letting temporary emotions dictate his actions.
We all face moments when emotions threaten to overrule our better judgment. Whether it's a sharp response to criticism or a hasty decision made in frustration, the urge to react can be compelling. Yet, as Lincoln demonstrated, the art of pausing serves as a guardian against such impulsivity, reminding us to steer our reactions, not be steered by them.
Practice pausing more often. It’s the difference between reacting (impulsively) and responding (wisely).
Team Discussion Question
How can you incorporate the value of pausing into your decision-making processes, particularly when emotions are high, or criticism is involved? What strategies can you adopt to ensure your responses are thoughtful rather than impulsive, and how can this approach benefit your team's cohesion and effectiveness?
[1] Abraham Lincoln: A Life, Volume 1 by Michael Burlingame.
Thank you to Noah Goldstein for introducing me to pausing in his book, The Little Book of Yes: How to Win Friends, Boost Your Confidence and Persuade Others.
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