What Makes Response Mode So Hard to Leave
| Over the past two weeks, we’ve challenged two common assumptions: “I don’t have time.” “I need to address this right now.” Both keep leaders locked in response mode. This week, we’re looking at what makes stepping out of that mode so difficult. Here’s the third myth: Discomfort is bad. When you don’t respond immediately… When you let a request sit… When you decline a meeting… When you allow someone else to solve the problem… It’s uncomfortable. Behind. Exposed. Irresponsible. Less helpful. Less valuable. That reaction is real. For many leaders, response mode has become part of how they see themselves. The fixer. The reliable one. The one who jumps in. The one who keeps things moving. If leadership maturity means being intentional with your time, then some discomfort comes with the territory. Shifting from reaction to direction will feel unfamiliar at first, and that’s normal. This week, notice: Where does discomfort show up when you don’t respond immediately? When it does, don’t treat it as a signal that something is wrong. Treat it as information. It may be evidence that you’re interrupting a pattern. Next week, we’ll explore what it looks like to tolerate that tension, and what changes when you do. |
