I just returned from what has become an annual hiking getaway in Tucson, AZ. Whenever I am in the mountains, life lessons are right in front of me.

During the first day on the trails, I encouraged other hikers to pass us in that we were not in a hurry. It was such a reminder that life is a marathon rather than a sprint. Most of us, at least at some point in our careers, tend to experience a non-stop sprint, feeling like we are on a treadmill that doesn’t slow down. That’s a difficult reality that doesn’t often serve us well.

It is such a gift to be out in nature to set my own pace and to thoroughly enjoy every moment without rushing through to get to the next thing, or in this case to complete the hike. Not everyone on the trail was at my pace, slowly enjoying every moment. I saw runners flying down the trail looking like they would topple over and hit the boulders if they were to take one wrong step. While I also ran into hikers who I thought might want to pass me, they judged themselves believing they were too slow and convinced I wouldn’t want them to pass me as they believed they would delay me. This was another reminder that I was not in a hurry, rather there to enjoy the moment, enjoy the scenery and the exercise, be fully present, and not to race to the finish line.

I’ll be speaking next week at a conference to a group of executives about the importance of increasing one’s self-awareness to strengthen one’s leadership effectiveness. The hikes and staying present reminded me of my plan to open with a grounding, or presence exercise, to help people connect with the reality that when we take time for breaks, or time to slow down, we typically accomplish more. I was thinking about the old fable about the Tortoise and the Hare – which suggests “slow and steady wins the race.” It’s not about moving fast, but rather with purpose, and intention. And, as suggested above; by slowing down, we are likely to achieve better results.

I made it to the summit or end of each trail I hiked – enjoying every step along the way, breathing steadily, noticing the scenery, and feeling a great sense of accomplishment.

This week, I had conversations aligned with just this with one of my clients and one of my prospective clients. One was feeling new opportunity with some changes to his role, and decided now is the time to identify how to make the most of the opportunity by identifying the steps to be able to move methodically, not rushed in an effort to feel engaged rather than overwhelmed, while still challenged to produce great work and deliver on the company goals. The other was acknowledging the importance of taking the small steps to reach the bigger goals, being okay with the steady pace rather than racing to the finish line.

Where do you see opportunities to slow down to enjoy and achieve more? Curious to learn how partnering with an executive coach can help you to recognize how to work and lead at your most optimal level, while engaging in the breaks or “slow-downs” necessary to refresh and the patience to take one step at a time – allowing you to reach higher heights? Let’s connect.

“Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.” – Lao Tzu