Slow Down to Speed Up
In HR, it often feels like the pace never stops. Emails flying in, managers needing advice, employees chasing answers, projects to deliver—it can feel like you’re running at a million miles an hour every single day.
But here’s the paradox: sometimes, the best way to move faster is to stop.
Sometimes, you have to slow down to speed up.
Why Slowing Down Feels Counterintuitive
As HR professionals, we’re wired to respond quickly. We pride ourselves on being reliable, approachable, and on hand when the business needs us. There’s also pressure from leaders who expect instant answers and immediate action.
So the idea of deliberately slowing down can feel… uncomfortable. Even risky.
But moving at breakneck speed isn’t sustainable. It leads to firefighting, reactive decisions, and a constant feeling of being on the hamster wheel of HR, always busy, but never quite making the progress you want.
That’s why slowing down is not just a nice-to-have. It’s essential.
What Slowing Down Looks Like in Different HR Roles
Slowing down doesn’t mean doing less work. It means creating space to think, plan, and act with intention. And it looks different depending on your role:
HR Business Partners – Booking in time to think and plan the next initiative. Instead of rushing into delivery, take the time to define outcomes, stakeholders, and measures of success. That thinking time ensures initiatives actually land.
Standalone HR Managers – Pausing to revisit your strategy. When you’re pulled in every direction, it’s easy to lose sight of the bigger picture. Stopping to check if your activity aligns with business priorities can prevent wasted effort and rework.
HR Advisors – Slowing down to ask more questions. In the rush to give an answer, it’s easy to jump to conclusions. Taking time to understand the full context means you give better advice, build trust, and avoid escalation later.
In each case, slowing down isn’t about inertia—it’s about creating the clarity and focus that allow you to move faster afterwards.
Lessons From the Strategic HR Course
Just last night, on my Strategic HR course, we talked about exactly this: the importance of occasionally stepping off the hamster wheel.
You cannot keep reacting, reacting, reacting. At some point, you need to shift from tactical to strategic. And that shift only happens when you give yourself permission to pause.
Slowing down gives you:
Perspective – The ability to see beyond the crisis of the day.
Clarity – A better understanding of what truly matters.
Impact – Work that makes a measurable difference, not just a short-term fix.
When you slow down, you’re not losing time—you’re investing it.
The Wins You’ll See
At first, it feels counterintuitive. But the wins soon follow:
Fewer mistakes because you’ve planned properly.
Better stakeholder relationships because you’ve asked the right questions.
More confidence in your decisions because they’re grounded in strategy.
A calmer, more sustainable pace for you and your team.
The result? You actually move faster—but this time, in the right direction.
Final Thought
In a world that glorifies speed, remember this paradox:
Slow down, and you will see the wins.
Because the HR professionals who create space to pause, plan, and reflect aren’t falling behind. They’re the ones shaping the future.
Claire Cathcart
Founder - ELEVATE Hub
