Much of the work of the Slow revolution is going on at the grassroots, but if the world is going to change those at the top also need to get back on speaking terms with their inner tortoise. Today a challenging new book is out that makes the case for putting on the brakes in the boardroom. It is called “Slow Leadership” and the author, Adrian Savage, is himself a retired executive with a track record in management on both sides of the Atlantic. The book shows how both companies and staff benefit when managers seek to make the right decisions rather than fastest ones. No doubt the same principle can be applied to political leaders, too. Savage has launched a Slow Leadership movement. Check out his blog at: www.slowleadership.org.

Many people have heard of Slow Food and know that it is a driving force in the global battle against the culture of doing everything faster. But now another Italian-based group has entered the fray. It’s called L’arte del Vivere con Lentezza, which means The Art of Living Slowly. The members are a wonderful mix of high-flying executives, academics and humble craftsmen. I went over to Milan last week to take part in a public event they organized beside the Duomo and the media coverage was remarkable. The group’s big idea is to make February 19th the official Day of Slowness in Italy, starting in 2007. From there the plan is to turn the day into an international event. And these are the kind of people who get things done, so watch this space…

The other day as we were driving through a neighbourhood not far from our home in south London I saw a young man walking along the pavement wearing a T-shirt that caught my eye. It was baggy and white, and the black lettering across the chest screamed: Slow Sucks. My wife and I had a good laugh, but I wanted to know more so I leaned out of the car and tried to engage the man in conversation at the traffic lights - not exactly normal behaviour in London. He must have thought I was a freak, or a debt collector, because he put his head down and started speed-walking in the other direction. Who was the mysterious Slow-baiter? Where did he get that T-shirt? If anyone can shed any light on this, do drop me a line…