In the fast-paced world of finance, it’s easy to focus solely on the next deliverable, deadline or deal. But have you ever considered that stepping back — pausing and zooming out — might actually help your team generate more innovative and creative outcomes?

Shifting behaviors starts with shifting mindsets. First, equip your team with the science behind the value of rest and reflection. Neuroscientist John Medina, author of the Brain Rules series, advocates for working in 30–40-minute sprints interspersed with movement. He even suggests that the ideal office would have a gymnasium at its core, echoing the active learning we experienced in childhood gym class. Physical activity isn’t just good for your body; it sparks new neural connections that drive more inspired and generative thinking.

Once the rationale is clear, begin to prototype small changes. For example, experiment with introducing micro-breaks into your team’s workday. Start with something simple, like a moratorium on meetings for two hours one Wednesday each month. Use this time to encourage employees to focus deeply on creative problem-solving or reflective tasks. Afterward, solicit feedback and refine the approach together. This process not only makes the change feel manageable but also fosters collective ownership of the new rhythm.

Pausing and zooming out are also critical for mitigating risk. In finance, where the stakes are high and decisions carry significant consequences, creating intentional pauses can help teams identify blind spots or hidden risks that might otherwise be overlooked. When you give space for thoughtful reflection, patterns and anomalies become clearer, allowing for more strategic and forward-thinking decisions.

These intentional pauses help teams zoom out and see the bigger picture, breaking free from the tunnel vision of daily tasks. By encouraging these moments of rest and recalibration, finance organizations can unlock innovative thinking, improve decision-making and ultimately deliver better results. After all, in a profession driven by data and outcomes, creating space to pause might just be the smartest investment you make.

Natalie Nixon, PhD, CEO & Founder of Figure 8 Thinking, author of "The Creativity Leap: Unleash Curiosity, Improvisation and Intuition at Work," and the AFP 2024 Certification Keynote speaker. Hear from more inspirational thought leaders at AFP 2025.