Written by Pierre-Laurent (PILO) Verdon

How often do you find yourself reacting on autopilot?

A tough email lands in your inbox. A tense moment arises in a meeting. You're juggling priorities, and someone asks for “just five minutes.” Before you know it, your emotional brain has taken the wheel.

Many leaders I work with ask me:
👉 “How can I become more aware of what I’m feeling during the day—before I react?”

The answer lies in a deceptively simple yet transformative practice: the STOP Moment.

STOP is more than a pause. It’s an acronym—and a leadership tool:

🔹 S – Stop
Interrupt the pattern. Create space.

🔹 T – Take a deep breath
Breathe consciously. Anchor yourself in the present.

🔹 O – Observe
Notice what’s happening—inside and out.
What are you feeling? What are you thinking? What do you need?

🔹 P – Proceed
Now act—with intention. Not from emotion, but from clarity and choice.

We introduce this practice to many of the leaders and executives we support across a number of the companies and programs we work with. It often becomes one of their most trusted tools.

Because real leadership doesn’t come from always having the answer.
It comes from choosing how to respond, especially when things get messy.

💡 So here’s a question for you:
What would change in your leadership if you took just one STOP moment a day?

Watch the video to learn about it and give it a try!