Tempo: the rate of motion or activity.

—WEBSTER’S DICTIONARY

Develop a Tempo When You’re Working

I’ve mentioned before that when you’re the CEO of a company, it’s like being a general. You have to be in charge, you have to take responsibility, you have to instill confidence. But it’s also a bit like being a conductor, which is one reason I mention tempo. Think about it: An orchestra is comprised of many parts, of many instruments and players, and when they all work well together, you will have an exceptionally good orchestra. But the conductor is the one responsible for the tempo, for the performance, for the teamwork—it’s very much like having a well-run organization.

I operate quickly, which is allegro to an orchestra. My organization is the orchestra, but I’m the conductor. I’m very well aware of how important it is to keep the momentum going at all times, whether you’re in the mood or not. My team will take the cue from me, and I know it. Learn to develop your own tempo and stick to it. See it as an inner metronome that keeps consistent time no matter what’s going on around you.

People often ask me what makes me tick. I think that’s part of it—I simply respond to my own tempo, and my mode is working fast. Maybe yours is slower, maybe it’s even faster, but we all know what speed is best for us. Stick to that tempo and keep at it. People will learn to plug into that, and you will see faster results because of it. Can you imagine if every musician in the orchestra had their own idea of what the tempo should be? It’d be cacophony, a mess. That’s what can destroy businesses, too. Be a good conductor and make sure you’re all in accord on this basic component.

When I conduct a meeting, I’m in charge and I need people to keep up with me. People who work with me know my tempo, and they’ve adjusted. New people learn how. No matter what situation or business you are in, be alert to the level of energy around you—it will help you through every day. So if you’re not in charge yet, realize it’s your responsibility to take the cue and respond accordingly.

People talk about being in “the zone” when they reach a certain level of achievement, whether they are runners or writers. It’s when things come naturally, a sort of synchronicity. I know the feeling when I am making deals and I see the pieces falling into place the way they should. It’s something to aim for, and tempo has a lot to do with it.

For example, you probably all know the feeling of having to write a term paper. Sometimes it’s not so easy to get started—maybe you’ve procrastinated, but finally one night you get down to it and, after awhile, you are producing the pages without a lot of agony. Thinking about doing it was probably harder than actually getting it done. Something takes over and the work evolves. A lot of that is tempo, or getting into the groove, and pretty soon performance takes over and you’re done.

I’ve noticed that some people need a new speedometer because their positive momentum is so slow that they couldn’t possibly expect to get anywhere. Their tempo is set at a big number in the minus category somewhere, and they still can’t figure out why they haven’t arrived anywhere yet. Some people may think they’re born losers, but a tempo adjustment just might change that scenario.

There’s another reason I like to use the word tempo. Tempo also refers to the game of chess; it’s a turn to move in chess in relation to the number of moves required to gain an objective. Note that it refers to gaining an objective. We all know that chess is a game of strategy. So is business. Think about that—and develop a tempo starting today.