Go Slow to Go Fast: Better Thinking at Work

Episode 262

Ever had one of those moments where your mouth starts speaking before your brain has properly joined the meeting? Ish has. And, to be fair, most of us have. Especially when being quick, responsive, and “good in the moment” is part of what people value us for.

In this episode, Ish and Sacha get into fast brains, slow brains, gut instinct, airport security rage, AI-generated waffle, and why sometimes the smartest thing you can do is not answer straight away. Also, Japan, sheep detectives, and a movie recommendation that very nearly becomes something else entirely.

In this episode of The Not So Breakfast Show, Ish and Sacha explore the difference between fast thinking and slow thinking, inspired by Daniel Kahneman’s work on how our brains process information. Fast brain is the stuff we can access instantly: pattern recognition, quick decisions, instinct, and those answers that seem to appear without effort. Slow brain is where reflection, judgement, deeper thinking, and better decision-making live.

The conversation kicks off with Ish’s Japan trip, where Tokyo navigation somehow worked better than Auckland navigation, despite accidentally paying to enter the same temple twice. From there, the hosts move into how memory, attention, and environment shape the way we think.

They dig into how workplaces often reward speed, even when the situation actually needs clarity, reflection, or better preparation. Sacha raises the risk of AI giving us volume rather than judgement, while Ish reflects on how being valued for quick responses can sometimes lead him to answer before he has done the thinking.

Plus: emotions as data, not instructions; why walking can unlock better thinking and why laughter might be one of the best brain resets around. 

Key Learnings

1. Fast thinking is useful, but it is not always wise

Fast brain helps us recognise patterns, respond quickly, and make decisions in the moment. But it is also where bias, emotion, and assumptions can sneak in before we have properly checked what is going on.

2. Slow thinking creates clarity, not more noise

Deep thinking is not about producing four pages of thoughts. It is about getting to cleaner judgment, better questions, and more precise action. As Sacha points out, AI can give you volume, but it cannot replace your humanity or judgement.

3. Your environment shapes the quality of your thinking

If you are trying to do deep work in the same space where you answer emails, react to questions, and get interrupted every five minutes, your brain will probably stay in fast mode. Sometimes better thinking starts with changing state: booking a room, going for a walk, putting on headphones, or physically moving.

4. Gut instinct is trained, not random

A good instinct often feels instant, but it is usually built through repetition, experience, and reflection. Whether it is a firefighter sensing danger, a sportsperson reacting to a ball, or a leader handling a tricky moment, the fast response is often powered by slow learning done earlier.

5. Emotions are data, not instructions

Feeling angry, anxious, or frustrated gives you information, but it does not have to decide your behaviour. Leaders need the pause between feeling something and acting on it — especially when the airport security tray situation is really testing everyone’s personal development.

If you haven’t come across it yet, Working Genius is one of the simplest, most practical models I’ve seen for helping teams understand how they actually get work done. Not personality. Not fluff. Just clarity on where people thrive — and where they get frustrated.

 If you’re planning your next team day, offsite, or work event, I’d love to bring this to your crew. 

Find out more at IshCheyne.com