Posted on May 1, 2025

The Unexpected Lessons of Slowness and Setback

In a world driven by outcomes, efficiency, and performance, failure often feels like a detour—one we’re trained to avoid. But failure, when seen through a different lens, can become fertile ground for transformation. During a recent garden check, I felt a wave of anxiety I couldn’t shake. I realized it wasn’t just about tasks or deadlines; it was about the fear of falling behind. Like many professionals, I tend to link my momentum to visible progress. When that progress stalls or feels messy, the tension rises. Yet something shifted that morning. As I walked through my garden, I noticed that the places where I had stumbled—where the growth was slow, where the transplant didn’t look like it would take—were often the very places where I learned the most.

What the Garden Taught Me About Growth

I remembered feeling frustrated during those earlier moments. But when I returned, I saw something different. What had once felt like wasted effort was now taking shape into something better than I’d started with. That experience brought clarity: sometimes, our most meaningful growth shows up through failure, not in spite of it. And just as in the garden, those moments of pruning, dying back, and re-rooting are not signs of failure but signs of preparation. Growth doesn’t always come fast or loud. It takes place underground, in the slow stretch of roots, in the quiet work of tending to what’s not yet visible.

I found myself asking: What’s my fruit? Not in a performative sense, but in an honest, reflective way. Where have I seen signs of life emerge—not just when I’ve succeeded, but when I’ve stayed with the process?

Failure, Reflection, and the Research Behind Real Growth

This reflection became even more relevant when I began thinking about how many professionals feel the same way. In a post-pandemic study, researchers found that more than half of full-time workers reported feeling mentally exhausted by the end of each workday. Many also felt pressure to remain “always on,” even when unwell—a pattern that leads to burnout and disconnection (Workhuman, 2022). Work stress is now recognized as a major factor in professional disengagement and reduced performance. Research shows that chronic stress—often caused by unclear expectations, unrealistic workloads, or a lack of support—can erode both well-being and effectiveness over time (Bhui et al., 2016). Addressing these pressures requires more than grit; it often takes strategic, external support and time to reflect on what truly needs to change.

But there’s good news: failure isn’t the enemy of growth—it’s part of it. Leaders who reflect on failure and share those lessons with others build resilience, trust, and psychological safety within their teams. Rather than hiding mistakes, they treat failure as feedback and foster a culture of learning (Tank, 2023). Pausing to reflect also increases performance. A Harvard Business School study found that professionals who took just 15 minutes to reflect at the end of their training outperformed those who spent the same time practicing—achieving a 21.9% performance improvement on average (Di Stefano et al., 2014). That simple act—slowing down—becomes a multiplier. Instead of reacting from exhaustion, we move with clarity and confidence. It turns out, slowing down isn’t about losing time. It’s about protecting your momentum.

Why Coaching Creates Space for Rooted Transformation

This is the invitation coaching and consulting offer. Not to hustle harder, but to grow more intentionally. In a culture that equates progress with speed, coaching offers something countercultural: space. Space to reflect, to recover, to realign. Whether you're navigating transitions, recalibrating your purpose, or leading through uncertainty, coaching becomes a steady presence that honors both your process and your potential.

At The Ezer Roots Collective, I offer coaching and consulting services tailored to your unique journey. Whether you’re navigating change or leading a vision, my approach blends practical support with deep clarity—equipping you to lead with purpose and grow with confidence. Through thoughtful listening, principled support, and values-based guidance, I help individuals and organizations align identity, values, and vision for meaningful impact.

Rooted growth isn’t about rushing toward a result. It’s about uncovering what matters most and building from there. It’s about choosing transformation over hustle. And it’s about realizing that the slowest seasons often produce the deepest roots.

You’re Not Behind—You’re Becoming

If you’re in a season of frustration, fatigue, or fog, you’re not falling behind—you’re becoming. Becoming takes time. It takes care. And sometimes, it takes another voice to help you recognize that what looks like delay might actually be development. The work you’re doing—internally and externally—deserves space to root before it blooms.

Coaching & Consulting for Transformative Growth and Meaningful Impact isn’t just a tagline—it’s a commitment to walking with you through the discomfort of transition and the courage of becoming. Together, we’ll explore personalized pathways to growth grounded in clarity and purpose, so you can move forward with direction and peace.

🌿 Garden life is good. It’s so, so good. Go play in the dirt. 🌿

References

• Bhui, K., Dinos, S., Galant-Miecznikowska, M., de Jongh, B., & Stansfeld, S. (2016). Work stress: causes and effective interventions. BJPsych Bulletin, 40(6), 318–325. https://doi.org/10.1192/pb.bp.115.050823
• Di Stefano, G., Gino, F., Pisano, G. P., & Staats, B. R. (2014). Learning by thinking: How reflection improves performance (Working Paper No. 14-093). Harvard Business School. https://www.hbs.edu/faculty/Pages/item.aspx?num=46452
• Tank, A. (2023, August 29). How leaders can learn from their failures. Fast Company. https://www.fastcompany.com/90945750/5-steps-leaders-can-take-to-learn-from-their-failures
• Workhuman. (2022). Two years into COVID: The state of human connection at work [PDF]. https://www.workhuman.com/resources/globoforce-blog/iq-report-two-years-into-covid/