Because you are your business’s timekeeper, it’s important to know when you should speed up something, or even slow it down. Timing is a fragile thing, even when you’re talking about the day-to-day operations of your company – or your life. Have you ever put effort into figuring out when Starbucks gets busy on Monday mornings so you can artfully avoid it? But as a business owner, there’s a much larger picture you need to look at. When it comes to timing, here are examples of when you should take it slow and when you should pick up the pace.
Take It Slow
Be slow to criticize. Don’t say unkind words quickly, but always appreciate and compliment as soon as you can.
Be slow to hire. Hiring doesn’t take weeks and weeks, but every interviewee should be seen by multiple people on your team. Hiring because you need someone desperately can sometimes result in bad decisions.
Be slow to judge. Not everyone is facing the same challenges as you, but it’s likely they are still facing challenges. Be sympathetic and gather information before calling someone out.
Be slow when planning. Plan very, very carefully. Once you have everything laid out, then you can shift into a higher gear. But take the time to really plan all of the details.
Speed It Up
Firing nonperformers. Don’t be afraid to kick someone out of the company that isn’t improving, even with guidance and warnings.
Offering feedback. When you have very specific feedback, good or bad, offer it quickly.
Promoting from within. If someone is good at their job and you think they’d be good at the one that’s open and they want it, promote them without a second thought.
Admitting mistakes. Don’t be afraid to admit when you’re wrong. There’s no shame in being wrong, only a shame in not admitting it and fixing the problem.