quiet fridays newsletter ed3: Is doing nothing a leadership skill?
When life throws you into chaos, what’s your first instinct? To act fast? Fix things? Or maybe... stay still?
As an introvert, you might already lean toward reflection. But in high-stakes leadership, where the pressure to act is relentless, this strength can feel like a weakness. It’s not.
This edition is dedicated to the Stoics who had a radical approach to navigating uncertainty: embrace stillness. Not the passive kind, but the intentional, thoughtful pause that creates clarity.
Let’s explore how to turn stillness into strategy.
Insight:
Action without stillness is noise
When we calm our minds amidst chaos, we're conserving our energy to regain power. It's like winding up a toy car—though it may seem still at first, it’s gathering the energy needed to move fast and create impact. By quieting our minds, we're preparing ourselves to respond to stress more effectively, with purpose and strength, rather than reacting out of exhaustion or overwhelm.
Marcus Aurelius said:
"You have power over your mind—not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength."
Translation? Pause, breathe, and focus on what you can control instead of reacting to everything around you.
Inspiration:
Ataraxia-calm within chaos
Imagine being a cat in a room full of bouncing laser pointers. The chaos is everywhere, but you just sit there, calmly flicking your tail, deciding which (if any) is worth your attention. This is called Ataraxia--- the state of inner peace and freedom from anxiety.
Stoics believed that when your mind is calm, you can see situations as they truly are, not through the haze of panic or pressure.
Need more inspiration on leading with calm? Check out 📺 The Daily Stoic Podcast by Ryan Holiday for practical stoic wisdom
Reframe:
Be intentionally impulsive
No one is asking you to avoid decision making or sit on your bum avoiding to solve problems. Instead of rushing in to “fix,” take a moment to ask yourself:
· What am I solving for?
· What’s the smartest next step, not just the quickest?
As Seneca wisely said:
"Sometimes even to live is an act of courage."
In other words, slowing down isn’t a sign of weakness—it’s a way to gather clarity, rather than rushing without purpose.
Reflections:
The 3-Minute Daily Stillness Practice
Set Your Intentions for the Day
· What to do: With a clear mind, think about the key focus for your day. Ask yourself: “What’s the most important thing I can do today?” or “What kind of energy do I want to bring into my meetings or interactions today?”
· Why it works: This helps you set a clear intention for the day, so you act with purpose rather than reacting to external pressures.
If you'd like to dive deeper into this, feel free to reach out
This week, try choosing intentional stillness over frantic action. You might just find it’s the most powerful move you’ll make.
Here’s to quieter Fridays and calmer decisions,
Sadaf Javed
Executive Coach & Founder
P.S. If this resonated, share it with someone who could use a little stillness in their chaos. Or better yet, encourage them to subscribe to Quiet Fridays.
