From a barber blog I check sometimes, they broke down how layering isn't just about cutting fast. It's more about the angle you hold the scissors and how you section the hair. Like, some methods use a lot of point cutting to blend, which takes time but looks more natural. Speed comes with practice, but messing up the technique gives you choppy layers.
Wait, they said point cutting for blending? That's actually wild because most barbers I know avoid it for speed. @wesley181 is right to ask about technique, but I'm shocked that blog admits it takes more time. You really see the difference in how the layers fall, choppy vs soft.