Designing for Good Friction: Why Slowing Down Can Move You Forward
In the race for transformation, many organisations equate progress with speed. Yet the constant push to move faster can quietly erode safety, trust, and sound judgment. As Bob Sutton and Huggy Rao argue in The Friction Project, not all friction is bad. The right kind creates space for reflection, clarity, and better decisions.
At Enable Change Partners, we see that friction, when designed with purpose, protects people and strengthens outcomes. Good friction builds guardrails that support flow, while bad friction adds noise and delay. The challenge for leaders is knowing the difference.
Real transformation happens when leaders design friction intentionally, slowing down the right moments so their teams can move forward with focus and confidence.