The lovely Old Latin proverb - make hast, slowly - and more commonly kenned as ‘more haste, less speed’ - is often post-hoc advice I dole out to myself, when rushing to compile something or other with the result of at least one pratfall in the response.

Speed of response being the standard demand of anything nowadays, however, asking for a ‘moment’ (time’s up! COME ON!) nowadays means a rushed-out knee-jerk can be forgiven its small stupidities. 

Well, not by me. I hate my mistakes mistakes. 

But nevermind that. The paradox of the proverb - of needing to rush, while affording (or asking for) the pausing to think - is always problematic when called.

Why? Because with decision-making-at-the-speed-of-internet comes the permission for the Foresighted’s (for which read Hindsighters as well) ‘gift’ of judgement - running at the same open-throttled speed. 

An unwrapping of ('was always obvious to me this was wrong, damning) the inadequate, poor, biased, whatever, guessing made in the moment; a moment (of expedience, made with the Facts Available) now long past, and so long past evaluating with any useful context.

The great thing about proverbs, however is that they can chucked about without sounding like the dreaded Criticism (without the judgement-smugness, because it’s Classics innit?) Which also means you have no obligation to adhere to them yourself. Proverbs are given to teach other people. You already have the smarts. 

I mention this as recent news (in the UK), around the hurriedness or otherwise to taking decisions to improve things - decisions which are manifestly obvious To Everyone not in power need to be made - it seems the rule of thumb sketched out in the last paragraph, applies. 

The notion that kicking the can down the road to avoid awkward (post decision) retribution seems to be the MO for leaders (with exceptions.) 

But sometimes (as a notable ex-client one observed to me), sometimes it’s better to ask for forgiveness.

Not making a call is making a call (just as having no brand strategy is a strategy.)

I know it’s difficult. Career’s and lives hinge on making them. 

But clinging on to the anchor of obfuscation?

No-one’s going to thank you for that.

As another saying goes; absent, none without blame; present, none without excuse.

The header image - of the dolphin and anchor - was rendered by Romans as a visual adage for the saying. I like that idea, of pictorial equivalents for a coinage. Do let me know if you know of others :)