I’ve always been passionate about cars and about the marketing strategies of automotive companies. Most of them place an emphasis on maximum speed and acceleration to keep us dreaming, even though there are driving regulations in place. A great deal of attention is given to the time it takes to go from 0 to 100 km/h. Hardly anyone talks about the opposite: going from 100 km/h to 0.
In our professional and personal lives, we often focus on advancement, progress, growth, performance and results. Few in the professional world ever think about slowing down: braking or descending after reaching the top. It is only brake system manufacturers and outplacement consultants who consider this. Yet it is at these very moments that accidents are most likely to occur, whether on the road or in the mountains – during the phase of slowing down after intense effort.
The descent and slowing-down phase should be prepared with as much care as the ascent. Fatigue and tension can cloud our judgement and weaken our performance following intense effort. It is therefore vital to conserve energy and build up “social credits”. By supporting others in times of activity and success, when we ourselves don’t need help, we create goodwill that will be remembered. This may sustain us when we require it most. Showing generosity when we don’t need others is both an act of foresight and a strategy for resilience. It is also a gesture of kindness, altruism and humanity.
In our profession, it’s not uncommon to see people who’ve reached great heights caught completely off guard when things start to go downhill. Without preparation or support, they become isolated and recognise the importance of this stage only once it’s too late.
Lasting success depends not only on how we climb, but how we manage the way back down. It is planning, anticipating and managing this phase that separates strong, sustainable careers from those that fade after reaching their peak.
