One of the 214 nonprofit success strategies in my book When in Doubt, Ask for More would probably have struck me as odd earlier in my career when I overly prized decisiveness. But today, seasoned by three decades of mission-driven work and observing many others perform in leadership hotseats, I feel differently. I titled this lesson “Procrastination Pays … Sometimes.”
The lesson in its entirety reads, “It’s generally a good practice to respond quickly to people’s calls, emails, and letters. It sends the messages that you are paying attention to people, that you care about them, and that you are decisive. But when a message touches on an issue that complex, contentious, and emotion-laden—and especially when you find yourself reacting intensely to it—you should probably delay responding for a day or two. Use the extra time to seek advice and reconsider your immediate reaction. When applied to larger projects, this concept means that sometimes it is best to “muddle through” rather than make an impulsive decision or one that is simply not yet timely.”