High Velocity Needs Calm
Set the tone, Control the action
“Calm is Slow, Slow is Smooth, Smooth is Fast”
adaptation from “Slow is Smooth, Smooth is Fast”
“If you’re in a hurry, go slow. If you’re in a really big hurry, go very slow.”
Cherokee Proverb
Welcome to a new edition of “Students of Leadership”, today to reflect on the implications of the operating principle “Calm is Slow, Slow is Smooth, Smooth is Fast,” a battle-tested strategy for precision under pressure.
In today’s fast-paced world (and in any life situation really), the ability to maintain clarity and composure amid chaos is not merely advantageous; it is essential. This principle underscores a critical truth: the pathway to effective velocity and meaningful impact lies in the mastery of deliberate calm, rigorous preparation, and the flawless execution of foundational skills. Effective leadership knows that speed should be harnessed as a catalyst for impact rather than a precursor to impulsive and disorganized actions.
As Amazon founder Jeff Bezos insightfully stated, “I think frugality drives innovation, just like other constraints do. One of the only ways to get out of a tight box is to invent your way out…” This sentiment resonates deeply with me because the constraints of time can compel anyone to make hasty decisions, often with unforeseen long-term complications. The challenge then, is to navigate these pressures with calm, ingenuity and foresight, finding innovative pathways forward rather than resorting to destructive shortcuts. Effective leaders understand that when urgency escalates and stakes are high, the ability to remain calm and composed is their most valuable asset.
Sustainable success is not dictated by the relentless pursuit of speed at any cost; it is achieved through strategic deliberation and the courage to prioritize thoughtful decision-making over reactionary impulses.
The urge to fix often gets in the way of the opportunity to create.
Calm is Slow:
Finding Clarity Amid Pressure
“Calm” is not the absence of urgency;
it’s the discipline to control your response to it.
When teams are under immense pressure, leaders must act internally and be seen externally as the calm in the storm, shaping the environment where questions more than orders, framing to see both the forest and the tree, and rationality prevail. Calm leadership is contagious: it grounds teams, enabling them to think clearly and avoiding the mistakes that chaos often produces.
Take Alan Mulally, the former CEO of Ford Motor Company, who orchestrated one of the most remarkable corporate turnarounds in modern history. When Mulally arrived at Ford in 2006, the company was losing billions of dollars and faced immense pressure to act, and act fast. Instead of rushing into reactionary decisions, Mulally brought calm and order. He introduced a measured, transparent leadership approach called the “Business Plan Review” process, where every leader was expected to calmly present the facts, no matter how dire. This approach allowed Ford to focus on the real problems instead of spiraling into blame or panic. Calmness created the very much needed clarity to define critical priorities moving forward and enable action.
It is precisely in moments of high pressure, where good leadership knows how to create breathing room for their teams. A deliberate moment to reflect, reset, and refocus can instill people with confidence, show support to those caught in the whirlwind, and drastically change outcomes.
Tip: Consider introducing a ritual of “calm resets” before major decisions, ensuring that the team avoids being reactive and moves forward with clarity. In a previous experience with a team I used to call it “Pause to Pace”
Slow is Smooth:
Intentionality Builds Precision
Being slow is not about delay, it’s about intentionality.
Deliberate actions align stakeholders, ensure that every step contributes to the larger goal and reduce errors. It’s about thorough preparation so that when it’s time to execute, the process feels effortless.
An example of this principle is the creation of Pixar’s Toy Story. At the time (early 1990’s), creating an entirely computer-animated feature film, was a revolutionary concept. The pressure was immense because 1. the industry was skeptical about the ability of the studio to deliver such new concept, 2. deadlines loomed, and 3. budgets swelled. What to do then?
Pixar’s leadership under Ed Catmull and John Lasseter, double down on what they knew was the right process for the desired outcome, and refused to rush. The precision required to create an unparalleled experience that would eventually kick-off a new era in films, could not be rushed, they were creating the new, not rushing the same old. They painstakingly reworked scenes, refined technology, and repeatedly delayed production to ensure the final product was in line with Pixar’s vision. Their “slow” process didn’t just result in a successful film; it redefined animation and built a billion-dollar franchise. Look back and see what Pixar has done over the past 30 years.
Pixar’s story illustrates that slowing down in the short term can lead to breakthroughs in the long term by prioritizing precision over speed. This mastery is what allowed them to turn an audacious vision into not just one masterpiece, but a new era.
Tip: Before responding to a crisis or launching new initiatives, map out the process with precision. Break it into actionable steps, assign clear roles, and anticipate potential obstacles. Use ‘Inversion’ as a mental model to think through what might go wrong and how to avoid it. It’s similar to doing regular pre-mortem evaluations, it helps strategize against possible failure more than blindly roadmap to success.
Smooth is Fast:
The Payoff of Seamless Execution
When calm preparation is deliberate, execution becomes seamless.
Tue speed emerges not as a rushed, frantic sprint, but as the byproduct of the intentional alignment that makes a flywheel gain unstoppable momentum. Teams that are prepared and aligned, can act with velocity and adapt quickly to challenges to achieve exceptional results, consistently.
Consider Apple’s launch of the first iPhone. While the world saw a groundbreaking product seemingly launched overnight, the reality was years of meticulous preparation. Apple didn’t rush the process; instead, they ensured that every element (hardware, software, user experience) was integrated seamlessly. When it was the time to launch their innovation, their slow and smooth preparation allowed them to dominate the market with speed and precision, leaving competitors scrambling.
In stark contrast, look at the companies or teams that stumble due to rushed execution, whether it’s not well prepared product launches that flop due to poor quality, or mismanaged reorganizations that fracture teams and destroy morale impacting performance.
Speed without smooth causes friction, friction creates chaos; and chaos is the absolute enemy of high performance.
Tip: to build a culture where execution feels seamless use systems that streamline communication, ensure accountability, and empower teams to act decisively when the moment arises. Create habits like regular after-action reviews (post-mortem) to refine processes and continuously improve the team’s ability to execute smoothly and quickly.
The leadership Imperative: High Velocity Through Discipline
Ultimately, “Calm is Slow, Slow is Smooth, Smooth is Fast” is about discipline. It is about resisting the impulse to react in the moment, even when the stakes are high.
Why is this so important?
Because the end goal is not to create an organization that is capable of handling pressure, but one that can thrive under it. You are not just building resilience but creating anti-fragility (I recommend read my newsletter on this topic)
Time spent cultivating calm, aligning teams, and preparing with precision is never wasted. It builds the foundation for high velocity for sustainable results.
“The more you sweat in peace, the less you bleed in war.”
The next time urgency demands immediate action, ask yourself: Are we truly ready to move fast, or are we reacting out of fear?
If you take moments to pause, prepare, and align, you’ll find that when the time comes to execute at full speed, your team will move like a machine with remarkable effectiveness.
This is what it means to lead with discipline, clarity, and purpose in the face of complexity.
Master the art of intentionality!
Calm is not weakness.
Slowing down is not hesitation.
Moving smoothly is not indulgence.
P.S. Before I go, here you have “The Treat,” where I share some of the music that made me company while writing … Enjoy as you bid farewell to this post
“Lead yourself, Learn to live. Lead others, Learn to Build.”
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So glad to be reading your content again Sebastian. Sometimes the perfect read comes along just when you need it and this was it for me. Thanks and look forward to more!