Are you or someone you know addicted to adrenaline?

Many in leadership positions are addicted to adrenaline and don’t even know it.

Not only does the adrenaline addict pay a price (working harder and harder, rushing, poor relationships, etc.), the organization they work for suffers (everything is last minute, poor strategic planning, always in crisis management, etc.).

Patrick Lencioni, author of The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, has this to say about adrenaline addicts:

“There is something particularly insidious about adrenaline addiction that makes it hard for many leaders to kick the habit.  Unlike other addicts whose behaviors are socially frowned-upon, adrenaline addicts are often praised for their frantic activity, even promoted for it during their careers.  And so they often wear their problem like a badge of honor, failing to see it as an addiction at all in spite of the pain it causes.”

Read Lencioni’s article: “The Painful Reality of Adrenaline Addiction

Adrenaline addiction is a recoverable condition.  Here is a self-test to help you determine your level of addiction and some tips on how to overcome your addiction:

Download Adrenaline_self_test_iatf

When you have reserves — when you operate from the place of having more than enough, you show up differently.

You’re able to be fully present with people – – your team members, your customers, your, suppliers, your friends, your spouse, your children…

On the other hand, if all you have is just enough – or worse, NOT enough – it becomes very easy to operate from a place of lack and fear.  Operating from abundance and possibility thinking is out of the question and so is anything having to do with inspiration.

The greatest barrier to establishing strong reserves is an addiction to adrenaline.

As your addiction to adrenaline diminishes, your ability to develop strong reserves increases.

This leadership lesson comes from the IATF Leader As Coach Fast Track Program.