In praise of percolation: the secret to better work and better decisions

“I have to take your first answer.” We often treat the first thought that enters our head as though it’s the right one. As though, because it came to us first, it’s somehow therefore innately true. And maybe some of the time it is. But what if we could stroll past our first and even second answer? What would come next? Would it be better? More right, more authentic, more considered? Sometimes, we do ourselves a disservice by settling for our first answer, instead of giving ourselves time to dig a little deeper.

And this doesn’t just apply to game shows. It’s rare that our knee-jerk reactions to client feedback, online/social media spats or gripes on the family WhatsApp are representative of the person we want to be.

Slowest answer wins

In an age where we’re expected to reply instantly, what if we could get into the habit of pausing before we hit reply? Letting our brains do the work, consciously and unconsciously, before responding from a place of calm?

Your opinion might change once you’ve had time to step away from the situation and think. (Especially if you’re an introvert, like me.) And if your answer doesn’t change? Well, that’s okay. At least you’ve given yourself the space to know for sure.

Ask for the time you need

Let’s normalise needing more time. Over the last year or so, I’ve noticed a greater acceptance of different approaches and working styles. Voice-only calls for folk who hate video, verbal proposals for those who hate reading. If a client throws a question my way and I need time to reflect, nowadays I tend to ask for it. Think about it, when someone asked a tricky question in school, which teacher did you admire more? The one who Boris Johnsoned their way through an answer or the one who paused before saying: “Actually, kid, I don’t know. Let me find out and get back to you”?

Rushed thoughts wreck lives

Rapid decision-making has become part of our everyday lives. Spontaneity and impulsiveness are prized traits. Often, they’re then used against us to make a sale. We’ve all seen those timed offers on hotel rooms and coaching programmes. “200 other people are looking at this room for these dates!” “You have two days, one hour and 27 seconds to book your place on this life-changing course.” This pressure violates your right to choose in a state of calm. Perhaps it pushes you to buy something you may later regret.

Time unlocks creativity

But slowing down doesn’t only lead to better decisions. Passages of time are invaluable to helping creativity flow. There’s little more nourishing to a piece of writing than some time apart. Next time you’re at the bottom of a creative mountain, let time do some of the heavy lifting. Plan projects so you aren’t submitting client work same-day. If there’s a weekend in-between, even better. Likewise, give blog posts, newsletters and even social posts an overnight rest before you ship them out.

Tackling conflict calmly

And it’s a trick that works well in other aspects of life too. We’re taught it’s best to air grievances in person. But what if sending an email is the gentler thing to do (this I Weigh episode discusses this in more detail), giving both parties time to cool down and respond with precision and care.

Likewise, when receiving negative feedback or dealing with a social media disagreement, could a little time before you hit the keyboard give you the clarity you need?

Percolation and patience

Because I guess the real skill behind percolation is patience. You have to be patient with yourself, trust that your brain will get there. You have to be patient with others. And perhaps most challenging of all you have to expect patience of others. I’ve come across lots of brands recently who have this expectation of patience woven into their strategy, their story. There’s the Brighton lingerie brand who handmakes pieces according to demand. Then there’s the slow fashion brand from whom orders can take up to 12 weeks to arrive at your door. It’s the antithesis of those vast tax-avoiding multinationals with their next-day delivery service. Maybe (hopefully) we’re meandering into a new era of slowness, of patience.

And surely that’s good? Because who loses in a system where we can unbox anything we desire within 24 hours of realising we want it? The warehouse professionals, the environment. And when your client wants that beast of a project delivered yesterday if not sooner? You suffer, the work suffers, your job satisfaction suffers. And I’m guessing throwing shit at the wall in a state of panic is not what gets you out of bed in the morning.

How to prioritise percolation

Of course, prioritising percolation isn’t always possible. You might be put on the spot in a meeting or expected to perform a tight turnaround for a client. But sometimes, even though it seems challenging, you can still buy yourself time with a little assertiveness.

So, here are some tips to prioritise percolation:

1. Next time you’re put on the spot, whip out these time-buying phrases:

   a) “Let me check my schedule and get back to you”

   b) “I need to confirm with X before I let you know” (X being your partner, kid, accountant, mum, whoever you can scapegoat…)

   c) “I’d like some time to think, I’ll get back to you”

2. Take at least a day. Ideally a weekend. The world will not stop turning, I promise.

3. Do something else. This is not licence to stew on your dilemma or project. Get outside, meet a friend, cook a meal. And above all, get a good night’s sleep if you can.

4. Check in with your goals and values. Ask yourself which outcome gets you closest to where or who you want to be.

5. Listen to your gut.

6. Let the person know when they can expect to hear from you. Setting that deadline will calm them down if they’re impatient for a reply.

7. Don’t apologise. “Thanks for your patience” is more than enough.

8. If a client is pushing you for a quicker project turnaround than you’re comfortable with, let them know it may (will) impact the quality of the work.

9. Wait three weeks before you buy or invest in something. Check you really need it. Choose the slowest possible delivery option.

Above all, take this as an invitation to pause. Think: “Is that your final answer?”

Chat to me on LinkedIn, I’d love to know your thoughts.