It is rare to find organisations that integrate a learning trajectory in their daily business, let alone finding some that appreciate slowing down. Well, recent trends indicate that things might be changing..

Have you ever witnessed a dog running around in circles following its own tail? You might have looked at him smiling. My first thought that came to mind while witnessing this was: ‘What a funny, stupid and playful activity’. My inquisitive mind urged me to explore other peoples’ perceptions on a forum. Explanations vary from a need for exercise to a stress response. Forum participants agreed that it’s a bad habit to run around in circles; it’s a problem that needs to be solved.

Running around in circles in its figurative sense is a proverb that has a negative connotation. It is explained as standing still, not making any progress. Most business people look for innovation. Organisations want to move ahead. It is rare to find organisations that integrate a learning trajectory in their daily business, let alone finding some that appreciate slowing down. Well, recent trends indicate that things might be changing.

In our current society those who pay the piper call the tune. ‘Money rules’ and ‘time is money’. A counter movement however seems to become visible. As citizens get better informed we seem to be moving to a society whereby values, such as authenticity and honesty, will be re-integrated in management processes.

Most people are familiar with the term slow food; a counter movement to fastfood chains. Slow food shows that enjoying food and making a profit through an honourable and fair production process can go hand in hand. Slow food products might be more expensive, because of the slowed down production process. Consumers however see the long term benefits of a higher quality and through a raised awareness buy them anyhow.

A more recent trend is that of slow management. A Dutch magazine derived this term from the slow food trend and describes that ‘Slow Management calls for a renewed attention for quality, trust and authenticity’. Isn’t that wonderful? In the long run it migh even be profitable to slow down every now and then.  Lately I feel like a dog that wants to run or even better, stroll around in circles.