Without fail, impulsive acts almost always end with negative circumstances. Naturally impulsive people rarely think ahead to the consequences of their actions and always end up failing. Impulsivity causes costly breakdowns in all relationships.
Years ago I used to train young salespeople entering industrial sales. Rather than instruct them to manage complex sales I focused on teaching them not to be impulsive. Closing a sale too early always ended negatively; methodically processing sales data almost always had a positive outcome.
Even today I teach my newest employees to listen to customers while they talk. Most of the time the customer will lead us to the problem if we listen long enough. When a more complex diagnostic is necessary I coach them to not jump to an instant solution – possibly resulting in more work.
Impulsivity, to my surprise, is the byproduct of a very complex combination of psychological disorders including substance abuse and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) which causes some people to act on impetus. Many times these people tend to rush and make hasty decisions which they later regret.
Working side-by-side impulsive people can be very tiring because we, as managers, are always trying to keep them focused. Even the smallest distraction can completely derail someone who acts on urges. Projects, even short term, never reach closure and are frequently brushed aside with excuses.
I’ve noticed impulsive behavior is also accompanied by bravado, insecurities in oneself (oddly), irrational thoughts and zero forethought. People who act impulsively tend to be one-trick-ponies; getting in and out as quick as possible and jumping ship frequently. It’s very common to hear them blame others for their actions and take the role of victim anytime they’re questioned.
Consequences of being impulsive should be outlined and reiterated until the offender understands and hopefully doesn’t repeat their actions. In business, acting impulsively means the loss of money. Impulsivity could also have legal ramifications and cause a loss of employment depending on the individual’s profession and job requirements.
Certain impulsive actions may cause other coworkers to feel uneasy or unsafe in their workspace environment. If this is the case, immediately terminating the offending employee may be in order. In some cases notifying local law enforcement and seeking a “no trespassing” order may be needed. It’s important to remember we’re not married to these people and can separate ourselves for any reason.
Throughout my life I’ve decided to avoid impulsive people and tend to only associate with those who are vigilant and wary. In the long run, these people are more productive, take up less management time, drain less energy and cost less to employ. Do yourself a favor and consider weeding these people from your business and life, you’ll save a lot of headaches.
(Jeromy Patriquin is the President of Laptop & Computer Repair, Inc. You can read past articles at www.LocalComputerWiz.com.)