Think Twice... or at Least Once: Helping Clients Slow Their Roll

Understanding Impulsivity in Your Clients

We’ve all encountered clients who dive head first into decisions without much forethought, people who seem to act first and think later, and maybe it doesn't always work out for the best. While spontaneity can be exciting, true impulsivity can often lead to regret, missed opportunities, and frustration, both for clients and coaches alike.

But first, let's clarify: What exactly is impulsivity? According to Verywell Mind,

In simpler terms, an impulsive client prioritizes immediate gratification or reacts reflexively, often disregarding long-term consequences.

So join us on CLCI Live while Jen Long (PCC), Anthony Lopez (MCPC), Brooke Adair Walters (ACC), Jerome LeDuff (MCLC), and Lisa Finck (MCC) where we look at how we as coaches can be aware of the impulsive client who shoots from the hip and help them slow down, take a breath. and become accountable for their success in spite of their knee-jerk tendencies.

Identifying Impulsive Clients

Impulsive behavior might show up in various ways in the coaching session. Your client may regularly make a rash decision about their career, relationships, or finances, or express sudden frustration leading to emotionally driven actions, like abruptly quitting their job after a bad day, or impulsively making large, unnecessary purchases to feel better in the moment. During coaching sessions, you might notice these clients frequently changing their minds, making rapid decisions without pause, or displaying scattered thought patterns.

While occasional impulsivity isn't unusual, consistent patterns could indicate deeper challenges. Healthline notes that while impulsive behavior itself isn't a disorder, it can be symptomatic of underlying mental health concerns if it becomes uncontrollable or overly risky. It's crucial for coaches to be attentive and refer out when behaviors clearly fall into clinical territory.

Keeping that in mind, we are all guilty from time to time of making decisions purely on emotions or without fully knowing the reasons why, and it can be a thin line between intuition vs because-I-just-felt-like-it!

The Fine Line Between Spontaneity and Impulsivity

It's important to differentiate impulsivity from spontaneity. Our team at CLCI discussed this nuance during the recent CLCI Live session: spontaneity involves making quick, yet deliberate, decisions after briefly considering potential outcomes. Impulsivity, however, often skips that crucial moment of reflection. While spontaneity can enrich a client's life by introducing excitement and joy, impulsivity frequently results in regretful, short-sighted outcomes.

Why Impulsivity Matters in Coaching

Impulsivity can significantly impact goal-setting and achievement. Clients who act without considering the bigger picture might derail their own progress, creating additional challenges and frustrations. Coaching these individuals requires patience, insight, and a strategy for fostering awareness and mindfulness.

Coaching Strategies for Impulsive Clients

Encourage Mindfulness and Reflection

Impulsive clients often act without fully understanding or considering their root motivations. Coaches can facilitate mindfulness by prompting reflective questions:

• "How does this decision feel right now?"

• "What might you gain or lose by waiting just a little longer before deciding?"

Encouraging mindfulness helps clients slow down and weigh their actions against their long-term goals.

Break Decisions into Smaller Steps

Clients prone to impulsivity often leap into big decisions impulsively. By breaking decisions into smaller, more manageable steps, you can help clients practice deliberation, making impulsivity less appealing and more manageable.

Harness the Power of Accountability

Accountability structures—like setting clear timelines, check-ins, or even financial incentives—can help impulsive clients stick to thoughtful decisions. Establishing clear cancellation and refund policies also helps reduce impulsive reactions (such as abruptly canceling sessions!). It is important to note, however, the coach is not your client's accountability partner. It's not your job to babysit and make sure they are staying on task, it is to help them explore ways they can be accountable to themselves.

Identify Patterns and Triggers

Sessions can also be used to explore and identify when the client believes they are most likely to make impulsive decisions. Recognizing patterns allows clients to implement strategies to slow down and evaluate before acting. For instance, if they impulsively spend money when they are stressed. Being aware of a pattern is the first step in coming up with a plan to disrupt it.

Validate the Positive Aspects

Remember to acknowledge and validate the client's energy and willingness to act. Impulsivity often brings strong momentum—this isn't inherently negative. Your goal isn't necessarily to eliminate impulsivity but rather to help clients channel that energy into thoughtful, productive action. That works in their favor and with their long term goals.

Recognizing When Impulsivity Is Beyond Coaching

Although coaches are equipped to support clients in becoming more mindful decision makers, there are limits. Healthline again emphasizes that persistent patterns of risky or uncontrollable impulsivity might require intervention beyond coaching, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Recognizing these signs and respectfully referring your clients to mental health professionals is not just ethical, it's essential when it impedes the coach-client relationship.

All in all, impulsivity isn't inherently bad, nor is it always a sign of a deeper issue; sometimes, it adds color and excitement to life and one person's impulsive is another persons spontaneous. However, coaching is about equipping clients with the tools they need to balance spontaneous joy with thoughtful planning and decision-making. With careful guidance, coaches can help impulsive clients become mindful decision makers who embrace spontaneity when appropriate, but learning to pause, reflect, and consciously choose the actions aligned with their deepest goals.

At Certified Life Coach Institute, we empower coaches to skillfully navigate the complexities of impulsive behaviors, guiding clients toward a balanced, fulfilling life.

Thank you,

Jen Long (PCC), Anthony Lopez (MCPC), Brooke Adair Walters (ACC), Jerome LeDuff (MCLC), and Lisa Finck (MCC)

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