Are you reacting or responding? Why even 5 seconds matter

Have you ever “replied to all” when you shouldn’t have or stopped doing something really important just to read an incoming (and unimportant) email?

That is no surprise. We often react rather than respond. Especially if you are a manager, this can lead to serious troubles and wasted time.

In neuroscience, the difference is defined thus:

• A reaction is the very first (usually involuntary) thing we do when there is a stimulus.
• A response is what we do afterwards.