Many organizations insist that speed matters most because they are racing against deadlines, competitors, or a bank’s debt covenant.
That belief shapes the culture because speed becomes essential to beat the market. An organization operates inefficiently when it prioritizes speed above all else, because it forces multitasking that prevents teams from producing their best work. Some accept broken plates as the cost of speed, but that logic fails when applied everywhere.
Organizations perform better when the culture promotes focused work. Treat people like adults. Let them finish one project at a time. Efficient organizations use technology deliberately, deploying it only where it improves output. If tasks are finished before the workday ends, no one should be compelled to do pointless busy work.
Focusing on one task at a time and respecting each other’s space and time is the default expectation. The companies that slow down will beat the ones that burn out.