Episode 374: The Power of Pausing (Yes, Really) with Shawn Vanderhoven

Written By Erin Diehl
 
 
 

APPLE PODCASTS | SPOTIFY | PANDORA | ANDROID

What if slowing down is actually the fastest way to get better work done? 

In a work culture obsessed with speed, pausing can sound a little counterintuitive. But for leaders, a deliberate pause is about creating enough space to think clearly, focus on what matters, and make better decisions. 

In this episode of Workday Playdate, Erin talks with Shawn Vanderhoven, author of Pause: How to Lead Brilliant Work in a Busy World, about why the best leaders shift from a bias toward action to a bias toward impact. They dig into focus, productivity, workflow, delegation, AI, discernment, and the small pauses that can help teams move faster in the right direction. 

Pause to Create Focus 

Pausing isn’t the opposite of productivity. Shawn shares why deliberate pauses can help leaders reduce distraction, clear emotional noise, and create the space teams need to do their best work. 

Trade Busyness for Brilliant Work 

Being busy doesn’t necessarily mean you’re making an impact. Shawn explores why the best leaders shift from a bias toward action to a bias toward impact, and why getting clear on what actually matters beats doing more for the sake of doing more. 

Fix the Workflow, Not Just the Motivation 

Even highly motivated teams can struggle when the workflow is chaotic. Shawn breaks down why the way work gets structured can matter more than asking people to try harder, and how better workflows can help teams focus and perform at their best. 

Build Human Discernment Alongside AI 

AI can help us move faster, but faster doesn’t always mean better. Shawn and Erin explore why human judgment still matters when it comes to evaluating quality, relevance, and what great work actually looks like. 

Tune In Before You Jump In 

Before adding another task to someone’s plate, tune in first. Shawn shares a simple approach to delegation that considers workload, priorities, and context before jumping in with a new request. Because “quick ask” has entered the chat. 

Run a Distraction Inventory 

Ask your team: What’s stealing your attention right now? Take stock of the meetings, messages, priorities, and processes that might be getting in the way of focused work. 

Choose Impact Over Action 

Before adding another task to the list, ask: What does success actually look like? Get clear on the outcome before jumping into action. Clarity first. Busyness second. 

Tune In Before You Delegate 

Before dropping a new priority on someone’s plate, ask what they’re already working on, what might need to move, and what support they need to make the new priority successful. 

Your Freebie 

Not sure which learning experience your team needs most right now?  

Answer 5 quick questions about your team, their current challenges, and what you want to strengthen. We’ll recommend the learning track that best fits your team’s needs. 

Take the Learning Track Quiz here. 

About the Guest 

Shawn Vanderhoven works with companies and leaders around the world to scale impact through talent, focus, and speed. He is the author of Pause: How to Lead Brilliant Work in a Busy World, based on original research with leaders at more than 150 companies, including Amazon, Google, and LinkedIn. Shawn is also a collaborator on the second edition of the New York Times bestseller, Multipliers: How the Best Leaders Make Everyone Smarter and has co-designed leadership development strategies with executives at Capital One, Deloitte, Google, Intel, LinkedIn, and Salesforce. 

Connect with Shawn Vanderhoven 

  • Shawn’s book, Pause: How to Lead Brilliant Work in a Busy World 

Connect with Erin Diehl x improve it! 

  • For workshops and keynotes: improve it!’s website 

 
Erin Diehl
Next

Episode 373: Take the Risk Before You Feel Ready with Erika Johnson