In hindsight, it’s easy to tell when you acted in haste.  Looking back, you can clearly see you acted too soon.  For one reason or another, you have regrets.  How many times have you told yourself, “Darn, I shouldn’t have acted so fast?” 

Learn from your past experiences.  You have at least a few instances where the consequences of acting in haste are burned into your mind.  Acting in haste happens occasionally for everyone.  For some, it becomes a habit.  With awareness, preparation, and planning, acting in haste is preventable.

Acting in haste ranges from saying something you regret to making a decision that has adverse long term consequences.  Examine those times you acted in haste.  What were the underlying causes?  Was it anger, impatience, ignorance, impulsiveness, pressure from others, fear of criticism, or some other cause?

Regretting something you said happens when you speak before thinking, react out of anger, or jump to conclusions.  Whenever you are angry or upset, allow some time to pass before addressing pertinent issues.  Taking even a few minutes to calm down works wonders.  It provides a chance to think and put things into perspective. 

Whatever you say can not be recalled.  Other people will always remember when you say something you wish they would forget.  Waiting and thinking before speaking works every time it’s tried.  Next time you feel compelled to blurt something out, stop, wait, and think before speaking.

Being angry or upset clouds your judgment.  Decisions made in this state are error prone.  When you are in this frame of mind, you feel an overwhelming desire to act immediately.  Resist the urge.  With consistent practice, you can condition yourself to refrain from making decisions when you feel this way.

Your mind erroneously perceives these emotions as requiring emergency action.  Perhaps this is rooted in our evolutionary fight or flight mechanism which kept us safe in the face of immediate danger.  It takes determination to override you innate drive for immediate action.

Acting in haste also occurs when you feel rushed to make a decision.  This emanates from a perceived deadline, either internally or externally imposed.  Although there are situations where time is of the essence, they are usually the exception. 

There is a tendency is to wait until just before a deadline to act.  Procrastination puts you up against a deadline where there was originally plenty of time.  Make decisions while there is still time to fully asses your best course of action.

Acting without thinking is acting in haste.  Take time to analyze various options.  If you need additional information, make sure you turn to a knowledgeable and reliable source.  You want more than just an opinion; you want feedback from someone who has pertinent expertise. 

Many well meaning people are filled with misinformation.  What worked for someone else may not be appropriate for you.  Each person has their own unique circumstances.  Take time to evaluate all information as it relates to your situation.

Any action you take should make sense for you.  Acting because of peer pressure is not necessarily in your best interest.  Acting to avoid criticism isn’t a good idea either.  It’s your life and you are the only one who has to live with the consequences of your action.

Listen to your intuition.  If a particular course of action doesn’t feel right you must understand why.  If hesitation is based on fear, is the fear warranted?  Perhaps taking a particular course of action will produce a result you don’t really want.  Any action you take should be compatible with your morals and goals.

Acting in haste creates more problems than it solves.  Before taking action, be aware, think, analyze, and assess your various alternatives. 

NOW AVAILABLE:  "Dare to Live Without Limits," the book.  Visit www.BryanGolden.com or your bookstore. Bryan is a management consultant, motivational speaker, author, and adjunct professor. E-mail Bryan at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or write him c/o this paper.  2010 Bryan Golden

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