Knowing When To Do Nothing Is A Critical Skill

Can we practise it at all?

Photo by Jan Genge

It’s Hard

One of the most difficult things about being in a position of power is knowing when not to act. When the decision comes down to you, it is only natural to think that you should do something just because you can. Indeed, those who cannot make the call will demand that you make it. It doesn’t matter if a third want this, a third want that and the other third don’t know what they want. What all the thirds have in common is that they expect you to do something.

Let’s Not Act For Sake Of Acting

Yet, anyone who has been in a position of power will know that it is hardly ever that simple. Sometimes, we will stand before five bad options, and the most intelligent choice will be not to pick one. Enormous courage is necessary for the leader to decide to stay put. It is much easier to explain why we do something than why we do nothing. It is much easier to convince someone to act than to compel them not to. Particularly when in the middle of a crisis, in desperation, doing something — anything! — will calm our nerves more than freezing on the spot. The main problem is that stress will already have us rooted on the spot. We will likely move for the sake of not being frozen rather than because we should or because we know the direction we should…