Our users complete tasks faster when we make them wait.

We had an instant-save feature. Every keystroke saved in under 100ms. We assumed faster was better.

We tested a version with a deliberate 1.2-second delay and a small "saving..." indicator.

Instant save: task completion 61%, user confidence 3.9/5
Delayed save: task completion 74%, user confidence 4.4/5

Users did not trust the instant save. It was so fast they could not tell it had happened. The delay and the indicator were not slowing them down — they were telling them it worked. The pause was proof.

We kept a 900ms delay with a visible confirmation for save actions. Task completion held above 70%, and support tickets asking "did my work save?" dropped 61%.

Speed that users cannot perceive is not speed. It is silence. What action in your product happens too fast for users to believe it?