Being responsive is one of the easiest hacks to grow faster in your career.
I’ve come to believe that responsiveness alone will put you ahead of a frightening number of people, even when talent, godfathers, credentials, and experience are held constant. Of course, speed is glamorous and people like fast things in most situations. But more importantly, it creates an advantage because most people are slow, distracted, or waiting for the “right time” to engage.
You get an email on Saturday and already know what the response should be. Even if you don’t know, you know what a holding response could look like. But you decide it can wait until Monday, because of boundaries, balance, or some unwritten rule about not looking too eager. Meanwhile, someone else responds in ten minutes, moves the conversation forward, and becomes the default option in the other person’s mind.
Dearest, responsiveness is luck!
I understand the argument for boundaries, and I’m not dismissing it. But if you’re not careful, you end up drawing boundaries not just around your time, but around your career and your growth. Responsiveness is not servitude; it is significant leverage. When you are fast, you are visible, reliable, and top of mind for people who are building, deciding, or moving quickly.
Speed compounds because the faster you respond, the faster conversations close. The faster things close, the more often people come back to you. Over time, you become the person people think of when something needs to get done because you were always present when it mattered.
Of course, speed should be intelligent, not desperate. You have to match energy. If you are consistently fast and the other person is consistently slow, protect your energy and recalibrate. Responsiveness is a two-way street, not a vow of self-sacrifice.
But in a world full of delayed replies, unread messages, and “sorry for the late response,” being fast is a competitive advantage hiding in plain sight. More often than not, speed doesn’t just make you better. It makes you chosen.