When I climbed to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa, a single phrase followed me up the mountain: Pole pole.
Pronounced polay polay, it’s Swahili for “slowly, slowly.” More than just a saying, it’s a mindset—one that contrasts a world that worships speed. One that goes against my natural fast-paced energy and urge to push forward quickly.
Every time we’d pass a guide or workers on the trail, they’d say it over and over again like a warning, a blessing, or maybe both: Pole pole. Slowly, slowly.
The summit of Kilimanjaro towers at 19,341 feet. It’s one of the seven summits, the highest mountain on each continent. It’s stunning but unforgiving, and the biggest obstacle isn’t strength —it’s altitude sickness, the number one culprit that stops people from making it to the top. Rushing ahead, trying to push through too quickly, limits your body’s ability to acclimate to the elevation, and it can take down even the strongest climbers. The guides knew this. They set the pace—one mindful step at a time, steady and deliberate. At lower altitudes, the pace felt painfully slow, almost laughable. But they understood the big picture: rushing doesn’t get you to the top of Kilimanjaro. It gets you high-altitude sickness and a permanent ticket back down to base camp. Slowing down was strategic; it allowed our bodies to adapt to the thin air and reduced oxygen. It wasn’t about getting to the next camp faster; it was about actually making it to the summit. And I came heartbreakingly close to not getting there. (More on that below.)
Pole pole isn’t just for climbing mountains. It’s a mantra for life. A way of being that, if embraced, will make you better—not just for yourself, but for those you lead.
Why Slowing Down Helps You—and Your Team—Go Further
We’re conditioned to believe that speed equals success. And speed has a time and place. But prioritizing pace over speed actually allows you (and your team) to achieve more in the long run. It leads to:
- Better Decision-Making: When we rush, the amygdala (the stress response center in our brain) becomes overactive, triggering reactive decision-making. Slowing down activates the prefrontal cortex, which helps regulate emotions and enhance rational thinking.
- Preventing Cognitive Overload: Multitasking and constant urgency create mental fatigue, leading to mistakes and poor judgment. Slowing down restores cognitive resources, allowing for clearer, more effective thinking and sustained momentum.
- Creativity & Strategic Insight: When we slow down—whether through reflection, breaks, or deep work—our brain shifts into the Default Mode Network (DMN), the part of the brain associated with creative thinking, problem-solving, and strategic insight.
- Sustainable Progress: Rushing might get you somewhere fast, but it won’t always get you far. Sometimes, the most meaningful work happens at a slow, steady pace—and that’s exactly what’s needed to go the distance and eliminate burnout.
Embracing the Pole Pole Mindset
Living the pole pole mindset isn’t always easy, especially if you’re someone (like me!) who’s prone to overachieving and over-scheduling, or working in a culture that glorifies constant fast-paced hustle. But here are some simple ways to put this mindset into practice:
✔ Strive for a Balanced Pace: A sustainable rhythm, where urgency is intentional, not constant. Our research uncovered one of the 28 primary motives that drive our ability to thrive at work.
✔ Check in with Yourself: Are you rushing because you need to—or because you feel like you “should”? Slow down when you feel the urge to push harder.
✔ Build in the 15% White Space Rule: Carve out at least 15% of unscheduled time on your calendar to safeguard against burnout and support sustainable pacing.
✔ Adopt an “anti-rush” stance: Productivity isn’t about doing more—it’s about doing what matters. Choose deliberate action over frantic motion.
✔ Make Mindful Changes: If moving fast feels like the only option, dig deeper. What’s fueling the pace, and what adjustments would help you and your team work smarter, not just harder?
✔ Embrace Deep Work: Protect uninterrupted focus time. Stop the expectation of multi-tasking and instant responses and allow you and your team to dive into meaningful work without distractions. One focused hour is worth more than three scattered ones.
✔ Move at the Pace of Clarity: If something feels rushed and chaotic, slow down to gain perspective before making decisions.
✔ Create Space for Big Thinking: Give yourself and your team ample time for high-impact work—whether it’s strategic decision-making, creative problem-solving, or innovation.
✔ Lead by example. If you move mindfully, your team will too. Your energy sets the tone.
Your Summit, Your Pace
I come back to pole pole all the time to anchor myself when I need it (which, let’s be honest, is more often than I’d like to admit). I wouldn’t have made it to the top of Kilimanjaro without this mindset. Even with it, I found myself getting hit the day before our final push to the summit with terrible altitude sickness. And let me tell you—I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy. It took me 10 hours to get to the next camp, while most people did it in five. I was nauseous and couldn’t keep food down, I was shaky and short of breath with blurred vision—but I took it one mindful step at a time and made my way there.
After some recovery, I was ready to tackle the summit the next evening at midnight. Standing on the top of one of the highest mountains in the world, watching the sunrise, will always be one of my most cherished moments and a reminder of the power of a calmer unwavering pace. But pole pole is also the reason I’ve made it in other ways.
Writing my book? Pole pole.
Building a business? Pole pole.
Protecting my well-being in this 24/7 world? Pole pole.
It shows us that slowing down isn’t weakness—it’s wisdom.
Where can you—and your team—slow down in order to go further? What are you pushing too hard on that actually needs more time?
Because in the end, the goal isn’t just progress, it’s crossing the finish line, and to get there well—bringing others with you.