Judgement Before Movement

Tethered

The boat isn’t broken. It’s secured.

By design.

From a distance, stillness can look like failure or hesitation. But here, nothing is wrong. The boat is exactly where it needs to be, waiting for the right conditions, the right moment, or the right tide. Pushing off too early can be as costly as waiting too long. The challenge lies in knowing the difference.

In work, the same misreading often occurs when restraint is mistaken for inaction, particularly in moments that call for judgement. Progress isn’t always about movement.

Good judgement balances readiness with restraint: understanding when to move, and when not to.

David R. Smith