Jul 28, 2026 · 39 min · 12 segments
In a world obsessed with speed, what if the most powerful leadership move is to tap the brakes? In this episode, Shawn Vanderhoven—partner at The Wiseman Group and co-author of Pause: How to Lead…
Shawn VanderhovenGuestJennifer ColosimoHost
The number one thing that we found that these leaders did who created space for people to deeply focus is that they were really intentional about tapping the brakes.
They had this ability to slow things down just a bit so that people were clear, and in the end did-- were able to go faster, were able to do more meaningful work.
Our guest today believes that one of the most important leadership skills in a world obsessed with speed is knowing when to pause.
Shawn Vanderhoven is a partner at the Wiseman Group, where he has spent years helping leaders at organizations like Amazon, Google, LinkedIn, and Salesforce create the conditions for people to do their best work.
Through his research with hundreds of leaders and high-performing teams, Shawn discovered a surprising pattern.
The leaders who generate the greatest focus, engagement, and results aren't the ones who push hardest.
His new book, Pause: How to Lead Brilliant Work in a Busy World, explores how leaders can cut through overload, clarify priorities, reduce distraction, and help their teams focus on what matters most.
Read the full transcript.
Create an account to read the whole episode, search across every transcript, and follow the shows you care about.
The number one thing that we found that these leaders did who created space for people to deeply focus is that they were really intentional about tapping the brakes.
They had this ability to slow things down just a bit so that people were clear, and in the end did-- were able to go faster, were able to do more meaningful work.
Our guest today believes that one of the most important leadership skills in a world obsessed with speed is knowing when to pause.
Shawn Vanderhoven is a partner at the Wiseman Group, where he has spent years helping leaders at organizations like Amazon, Google, LinkedIn, and Salesforce create the conditions for people to do their best work.
Through his research with hundreds of leaders and high-performing teams, Shawn discovered a surprising pattern.
The leaders who generate the greatest focus, engagement, and results aren't the ones who push hardest.
His new book, Pause: How to Lead Brilliant Work in a Busy World, explores how leaders can cut through overload, clarify priorities, reduce distraction, and help their teams focus on what matters most.
