When Slowing Down Speeds Progress: The Case for Strategic Patience, by Jonathan H. Westover PhD

Abstract: This article examines the benefits of strategic patience and active pausing in decision-making, especially under conditions of uncertainty. While leaders are often rewarded for quick action, research shows that slowing down to gain better perspective through reducing cognitive biases, fully evaluating uncertainty, identifying creative opportunities, thorough risk analysis, and building stakeholder consensus can lead to wiser choices. Specific scenarios where patience has served organizations well include M&A decisions, crisis response, major innovations, and leadership transitions, as shown through case studies of a retailer and tech company. Overall, strategic patience can provide long-term orientation, opportunity maximization through thorough reflection, risk mitigation by considering all factors, stakeholder buy-in, efficient resource allocation, and a culture of learning through reflection. The article argues that periodically slowing down decision-making allows organizations to navigate uncertainty and industry shifts from a position of strength.