Slowing Down Is Your Fastest Path to Growth
We’ve all heard the advice: “Lead with vision.” But what if that vision is leaving your team behind?
In this episode of Prevention Pioneers, our host Laura sits down with Matt Espe, a chairman, director, advisor, and investor who has led transformations in several multi-billion-dollar firms (including Armstrong, GE, and Icon), to talk about the one leadership shift that changed everything for him: Patience.
Matt discusses what it takes to achieve sustainable transformation and why leaders everywhere need to prioritize team wellbeing, trust, and patience just as much as strategy and execution.
If you’re leading through a time of uncertainty or transformation, this episode is for you, so don’t miss it!
Slowing Down to Speed Up
Matt’s biggest leadership lesson didn’t come from a boardroom; it came from a quiet conversation behind a closed door. He was running full-speed to fix a broken billion-dollar plant, when a trusted colleague told him: “You’re leading, but nobody’s following.”
That moment stopped him in his tracks. He realized he was so focused on results, he’d forgotten to bring his team with him. That moment completely changed how he leads and how he supports mental health in the workplace.
It’s Not a Sprint, It’s a Relay
In fast-moving transformations, leaders are trained to look at the vision, the strategy, and the stakeholders. But leadership also requires looking back: checking if people are with you, understanding where they are, and adjusting the pace accordingly.
Too many leaders burn through teams in the name of progress. But transformation isn’t just about getting things done, it’s about allowing your employees to survive the process. Slowing down, listening more, and calibrating your message to the people on the ground can actually speed up sustainable results.
Repeat, Repeat, Repeat
One of Matt’s biggest tools is repetition. Not the flashy motivational speech kind, but the boring, effective, drumbeat kind. He tells leaders to take two or three priorities and repeat them so many times they get sick of hearing themselves; because that’s when people actually start to hear it.
During big changes, your message needs to cut through fear, complexity, and distraction. Simplicity and consistency are what help a message stick, and help a culture shift.
Why Wellbeing Is a Strategic Priority
Mental fatigue hits long before physical burnout, especially during periods of transformation. That’s why your employees’ wellbeing is not just a perk, but as a strategic imperative.
Through it, you can build cultures where people can speak up, where leaders make space for psychological safety, and where listening comes before directives.
Final Thoughts
In a world that equates speed with success, Matt’s message is refreshingly counterintuitive: slowing down is what makes change last. It helps your team feel seen, gives your message time to land, and ensures you’re not the only one crossing the finish line.
We discuss all of this in more detail in this episode, so make sure to tune in if you want to catch the whole conversation!
