Go faster… faster than you think your people or systems can go.

Across my executive coaching practice, there is a near-universal conversation I have with leaders. At some point they say, “We can’t go too fast. We risk upsetting the apple cart. We don’t want to break it. We don’t want to destroy our culture in the process.”

And almost to a person—two or three years down the road—they say, “If I knew then what I know now, I would’ve gone faster. I would’ve pushed harder. I would’ve been quicker to make decisions, to make changes. I would’ve done more at one time.”

And so on.

Have more faith in your people. Trust their resilience and that of your overall organization. Stop trying to make things too comfortable. Don’t live too much in the zone of avoiding risk and fear.

Almost all growth, both personal and professional, comes from discomfort. You think you know what you’re capable of, but maybe you don’t. You can dig deeper, work harder, and navigate the uncertainty.

Try looking at it this way: your reluctance to go too fast isn’t a sign that you’re considerate or appropriately cautious. It’s actually a limiting belief. You aren’t believing enough in your people, the organization, or yourself.

Jettison that limiting belief. You’ll be glad that you did and your results will be significantly better.