Slow is smooth, smooth is fast

“Slow is smooth, smooth is fast” is a phrase used by the SEAL teams.

When faced with a chaotic situation or project, the instinct might be to say, “Let’s all put our heads down and sprint for a week straight to push through.” But sprinting without clarifying direction often increases the odds of something going wrong.

Instead, take a moment to pause and think, “This is about to get complex, with many moving parts. Let’s slow down just enough to make it smooth.”

By slowing down slightly, things will flow more smoothly—ironically speeding up your ability to navigate the complexity.