Pause, Pray, Pivot: A Simple Shift For The Better
Sometimes, life hands you a moment that changes how you see everything, your leadership, your relationships, your thoughts. Recently, our CEO and owner had one of those moments, and it all started with a conversation with Bob Beaudine, the author of 2 Chairs. I highly recommend this book, it’s a game-changer. Bob shared a concept so simple, yet so profound, that it stuck with our CEO and has become something we’re all striving to live out daily: Pause, Pray, Pivot.
When our CEO shared this with us, he wasn’t just giving us a phrase. He was giving us a tool, a way to slow down and shift in moments when we’d typically react out of habit, frustration, or stress.
Here’s the heart of it:
1. Pause Before jumping in to solve a problem or react to a situation, pause. Take a breath. Leadership isn’t about fixing everything yourself; it’s about empowering those closest to the work to step up. This pause gives you space to evaluate: Is this mine to solve? Or is this a chance for someone else to grow?
2. Pray No matter what you believe, there’s something grounding about taking a moment to center yourself. For me, that means a quick prayer—seeking clarity, wisdom, and patience. It’s a reset button, a reminder that I’m not in this alone. For you, it might be taking a mindful moment to reflect.
3. Pivot This is the power move. After pausing and praying, pivot. Choose a response that leads to better outcomes rather than default reactions. Whether it’s delegating a work challenge instead of taking it on yourself or responding with grace at home after a long day, this shift changes everything.
This isn’t just a leadership hack, it’s a life shift. I’ve realized how much of a difference it makes in my thoughts, too. Our minds are powerful, and it’s easy to let negative self talk take the wheel: "I’m not doing enough," "I should’ve handled that better." But those moments are the perfect time to PPP. When those thoughts creep in, Pause. Pray. Pivot. Replace those inner critiques with something more constructive: "I’m learning," "I’m capable," "I’m growing."As leaders, we can’t pour into others if our own tanks are empty. If we’re constantly reacting, overextending, or criticizing ourselves, we’ll run dry. But when we PPP, we refill. We gain clarity. We respond thoughtfully instead of reacting instinctively. And those small shifts, those 1-degree changes, can create massive ripple effects in our teams, our families, and even in our own sense of peace and purpose.
Write these three words down. Put them on your desk, your fridge, wherever you need the reminder: Pause. Pray. Pivot. You’ll be amazed at what happens when you do. Sometimes, it’s the simplest things that have the biggest impact.I would love to hear how others incorporate this concept and how it impacts your leadership and mindset.