Make Haste Slowly: Practical Strategies for Leaders

In our last blog, we introduced the concept of “make haste slowly” (festina lente) and how it applies to achieving meaningful goals. The idea is simple but powerful: when you slow down enough to make accurate assessments, sound judgments, and thoughtful plans, you save time in the long run because you do things correctly the first time.

This philosophy was the secret weapon of Augustus, the first Emperor of Rome. He used it to transform a nation on the brink of civil war and collapse, going on to rule for 40 years of relative peace and stability.

But what does this ancient wisdom mean for modern leaders trying to move their organizations forward in today’s fast-moving world?

Here are several practical ways leaders can begin practicing festina lente:

Be aware of the energy you bring to your work. The pace of leadership often creates a sense of urgency, but science shows that when we feel rushed, our survival responses are activated and our ability to think logically declines. This is why self-awareness is so important. Notice how your nervous system responds when approaching an important task or decision. Signs of activation might include a racing heart, shallow breathing, muscle tension, or an unsettled stomach.

Identify centering practices that work for you. Awareness is the first step. Regulation is the second. When you recognize that you are in a stress response, slow down and reach for simple practices that will calm you and re-engage your logical thinking. If you have identified these tools ahead of time, they will be easier to access in the moment. It may mean taking a brisk walk, intentional deep breathing, or splashing cold water on your face. Explore the numerous “nervous system regulation techniques” that are available and find the ones that are most conducive for you and your situation.

Assess your leadership style. Self-awareness also includes understanding how your staff experiences your leadership. Are you perceived as reactive, steady, or slow to respond? Do you model a healthy balance between urgency and thoughtfulness? Or are you unintentionally creating pressure that causes others to rush? Gather feedback on this and reflect on what you learn. Then create a personal action plan to move toward a more balanced leadership style.

Engage in strategic thinking. Strategic thinking requires leaders to step back from daily operations and view the organization as a system. Identify areas where the work should be moving faster and analyze the barriers that slow it down. Also, pinpoint places where the organization would benefit by moving more deliberately. Which decisions require deeper reflection because of their long-term impact? Not every decision deserves the same level of analysis. Wise leadership involves knowing when to accelerate and when to pause.

Conduct a culture audit. Organizational culture is an invisible but powerful force shaping how work gets done. Even if individual leaders practice thoughtful decision-making, the broader culture may still push the organization toward either excessive speed or excessive deliberation. 

Assess where your organization stands on this continuum. Does your culture reward speed over wisdom? Or analysis over action? What behaviors receive praise? Which receive criticism? Do employees feel pressured to produce visible output at the expense of thoughtful work? When mistakes occur, are they attributed to moving too quickly or to poor judgment?

Identifying where haste and careful deliberation are out of balance can help leaders begin making meaningful adjustments.

Build structures that support the right balance. Culture shifts are reinforced by systems and routines. If your organization leans too heavily toward haste, look for ways to build reflection into your processes. Leadership meetings might include time to review progress, discuss challenges, and reflect on lessons learned. Project post-mortems can help teams analyze what worked, what didn’t, and how to improve future efforts. You can also build in protected time for leaders to dedicate to focused thinking without constant interruption.

If your organization leans too heavily toward slow deliberation, create structures that promote action. End meetings with clear next steps: what will be done, who will do it, and by when. Begin subsequent meetings by reviewing progress toward those goals.

Create a strategic plan. As the saying goes, “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.” While often repeated, the wisdom behind it is easy to overlook. Although creating a strategic plan requires dedicated time and effort, the payoff is clarity and direction. A well-developed strategic plan  transforms ambitious goals into an actionable roadmap, ensuring every effort contributes to long-term success. It helps organizations avoid aimless wandering, align resources with priorities, and reduce costly missteps. By investing in this foundation now, you trade today's uncertainty for a disciplined path toward your organization's vision.

Make haste slowly reminds us that effective leadership is not about choosing between speed and thoughtfulness. The strongest organizations learn how to do both.

That balance rarely happens by accident. It requires intentional leadership, healthy culture, and clear strategy.

If your organization is ready to move forward with greater clarity and purpose, G2 Solutions can help. Contact us to learn how we support leaders in strengthening culture, developing strategy, and building organizations that move both swiftly and wisely.