OUR METHOD
The PACING Framework
Pacing is more than speed. It’s a framework of qualities and practices that help leaders and their teams move, thrive, and relate to purpose and with purpose.
To make the framework easier to use, we gave each letter in PACING its own purpose. Each pillar has a pulse and a purpose: a distinct rhythm that shapes how it comes alive in practice.
These definitions will continue to evolve, but together they serve as a fluid, customizable playbook for pacing.
The Six Pillars
Learning by experiencing movement, Fun, Curiosity, Exploration, Imagination, Stretching
Purpose
Play sparks safe experimentation and joyful learning. It's the energy of trying, testing, and imagining together where curiosity meets courage.
Examples
Brainstorming, stretch assignments, micro-missions, prototyping, role play, training, coaching.
Energy, Motivation, Momentum, Feelings
Purpose
Action is not busyness. Action is about locating energy for courage, change, and agency.
Examples
Acknowledgement, learning about needs, releasing stuck energy.
Courage, Connection, Character, Calm, Challenge, Calibrating, Curiosity, Clarity, Creativity, Integrating the Brains (cognitive, physical, emotional and intuitive). The “Cs” and more
- Radical Candor ™ is real dialogue, reflective and generative described by Adam Kahane PHD
- Emotional Intelligence 2.0 ™
- Trust: see Brene Brown and Roger Mayer et all , The Language of Emotions , Kotter’s Change Methodology
- Developing insights and skills such as coaching, leading, delegating, decision making
- Human centred needs and psychological safety factors includuing, trauma, grief and loss, restoration, and conflict, paradoxes in conflict (Bernie Mayer) and power and love (Adam Kahane)
- Radical Compassion
- Finding mastery: I really love the work of Dr. Michael Gervais including his rich podcasts with leaders and athletes describing how care can be woven into leadership to release stuck energy.
- Character Leadership Framework, developed by Ivey faculty, Mary Crossan, Gerard Seijts, and Jeffrey Gandz. Tons of great articles and The Disruption Roundtables.
Learning from thinking, Insight, Reflection, Feedback, Observation
Purpose
Intake gathers context, meaning, and aims to collect data and build insight and awareness.
Examples
Journalling, debriefing, soliciting and giving feedback, observing impacts and behaviours, shadowing or mentoring, research, storytelling, conflict resolution, redefining beliefs. keep as is and add. Some of my favourite leaders in this are Dr. Diane Davey, Dr. Tasha Eurich learning page, Leeann Renninger co-founder of Lifelabs
Processing, Synthesizing, Adapting, Planning, Decision Making, Discernment
Navigating turns insight into movement by taking action that is directed towards the future. Navigating invites us to forecast, dream and synthesize information into a strong but adaptive route that we can follow through communications and readying people for change. It’s a rhythm of planning, adjusting, pivoting, and course correcting without losing direction. Navigating engages in collaboration and autonomy and it locates choices for leaders and team members.
In 2026, I was on vacation in New Zealand during the cyclone. The original purpose of my trip—to explore, learn, and experience the culture—didn’t change just because the weather did. I just needed the right tools and small adjustments to stay on course. I had an umbrella, but I quickly realized I couldn’t use it the same way everywhere. I had to adjust my grip and angle so the umbrella would protect me without flipping inside out. The wind frequently changed directions while I explored volcanos and cultural attractions. Sometimes its force pushed me forward; other times it slowed me down. This became a simple lesson in awareness and adaptation. Like adjusting sails, I had to respond to changing conditions rather than fight them.
Examples
Synthesizing information into plans, being brave in decision-making, measuring progress, and checking in with the team on how they are adapting or being energized by the movement, proactive communication, and engaging in both difficult and recognition dialogues. Tracking is important in navigating - taking short pauses or detours to check in on how people are feeling and what they are learning in the movement—using feedback to confirm alignment, course correct and anticipate disengagement.
Values, Anchoring, Calming and Calibrating
Examples
Pausing and breathing, aligning decisions with principles and ethical responsibilities, mindfulness and body practices (massage, craniosacral herapy, napping, showering between meetings), counselling, taking your shoes off and putting your feel on the ground, taking a shower after an unsettling meeting, walking your dog with your peers at lunch, reality checking with trusted friends and experts.
Guiding Principles
How Pacing Works
Each pillar carries nuance—skills, processes, and insight. Beyond that, pacing is not a standalone concept; it is a relational practice. Pacing has companions it works with; it is never on its own. For example:
+ We pace with change.
+ We pace with conflict and resolution.
+ We pace with learning and development.
+ We pace in moments of accommodation and growth, success and failure.
+ We pace with building relationship.
+ We pace with building products and services...and so on.
PACING is not linear but fluid, touching each pillar at different times and revisiting them as needs shift. Moving across all pillars creates momentum and engagement within the system, shaping a “Goldilocks”—just right—experience.
PACING is meant to be in movement—the tempo, cadence, and rhythm change with energy, clarity, and connection with others.
PACING holds both internal insight and external connection—each influencing the other and requiring attention: me as an individual and us as a system.
PACING is a choice.
PACING is a compass—an insight, a clarity, a companion.
PACING gains meaning when it works with leadership skills, core competencies, processes and exploring how each pillar lifts each other up.
PACING is customizable. Each pillar has many meanings—we’ve shared a few here. Encouraging you to define what it means for you. Play, for example, might be hope and possibility, imagination, or experimentation. Make it personal. Make it relational - without connection - it’s an idea craving a movement.
At its core, pacing is about staying in motion. Movement means there is life. Even in stillness or rest, we are still in flow.
Every pulse matters, every purpose counts, and together they create rhythm, connection, and meaningful movement.