In this article we will discuss the conflict between someone who scores high on both Cautious and Mischievous and how to coach around these tendencies. High Cautious individuals typically tend to weigh all options before moving forward with a decision and are less likely to engage in risky types of situations.
On the other hand, high Mischievous individuals tend to be more impulsive when it comes to making decisions. These individuals are more likely to ask for forgiveness than permission and tend to jump into situations without thinking through the potential consequences. Both scores have to do with decision making and risk taking however the approaches are quite different. The important point about the hurry up and wait dichotomy is that it is not only an internal struggle for the individual but it is also hard for others to work with these individuals as they are not getting a consistent view of how they approach different situations. This might be something to explore further when coaching the individual.
To elaborate on the above, if an individual is stressed and these derailers emerge at the same time, we likely will see a push/pull type of behaviour. On one side, the individual is accelerating the process steps needed to make a thorough decision, yet something may get in the way and stall them from moving forward. When coaching these individuals, it’s important to help them identify what is first triggering the need to hurry a decision and what might cause them to stall or wait. Consider from an impulsive standpoint, is it the fact they are ready for action and want to get started on an opportunity? Or is it more that they need to make the decision because their timeframe is running out and they’re feeling pressure from someone else? If it’s because they’re ready to get started, have them write down a project plan including what needs to be accomplished, who will be involved and the timeframe to execute. This will help them to see what it will take to create a successful outcome versus just charging through without a plan. Although this manual process may be painful for the impulsive individual, it will help slow them down. However, if it is more about someone pressuring them to make a decision or they are facing a tight deadline, you could coach them on how to “buy time” or find a way to extend their timeline. Help them come up with different questions that frame expectations around the importance of a good final product. Then discuss this with the individual who is pressuring them to finish. This is another area where you can help the individual construct a project plan with realistic expectations that can show the benefits of slowing down.
When fueled by pressure to make a decision, the opposite might occur. They likely will stall or wait either because they don’t feel they have the necessary information to move forward, or they feel they need to make an unpopular decision, which may result in them being criticised. As a coach, identify what is triggering them to stall. Ask them a series of questions to better understand their decision-making style. Do they feel they don’t have sufficient information, or is it more of a personal feeling that a negative consequence might occur from making a decision? Given this individual is also impulsive (Mischievous), they likely have had experience with negative consequences due to their actions, and may reflect on this when having a Cautious moment. If this is the case, coach them on how to face their fears; have the individual write down the possible consequences of their decision. Is it really that bad? They could also discuss the potential outcomes with their manager and/or the individuals that would be involved with the decision. This might help alleviate any concerns with the decision as well as help them gain approval from their manager to move forward.
