There are two traps in leadership.
- Constant productivity
- Merciless efficiency
Frenetic schedules reflect productivity, efficiency, and arrogance. A leader committed to constant productivity has rejected their humanity.
You have a problem if stillness scares you.
You’re better than a squirrel during nut harvest. Make time for stillness.
Make room for boredom.
#1. Boredom and Clarity
Motion isn’t meaning. Stillness is space to think, feel, and remember what matters.
We run around with our hair on fire and complain that we can’t find clarity. Lack of clarity points to absence of quiet. Constant stimulation obscures meaning.
Quiet feels wasteful. But feeling efficient when you’re losing yourself is destructive. Clarity grows when you’re still.
When Boredom Creeps In
- Your brain stops reacting and starts reflecting.
- Your soul whispers what your schedule silences.
- You remember what matters—and what doesn’t.
Insight follows clarity. Some of your best leadership moments are the result of not doing.
#2. Boredom and Insight
Noise drowns out reflection. Insight whispers.
We run from the truth by staying busy. Stillness lets your brain process what hustle suppresses.
Constant reacting distorts vision. You can’t see straight. The light catches up when you slow down.
You can’t listen deeply when your world is full of noise.
Action Item
Schedule empty space. If you’re never still, you’re probably never listening.
Schedule 10 minutes of strategic quiet today. No phone. No task. Just you, a notepad, and stillness.
What are some powers of stillness?
Go Deep: Eye-opening Self-Reflection Questions for Leaders
Get The Vagrant. It’s a cautionary tale about losing the ability to see yourself. Read it to learn ways to reconnect with authenticity.
