Refraining from Acting On Bad Impulses (Quick Study)

Harvard Business Review · Oct 30, 2026 · 5m

Stopping Yourself from Acting On Bad Impulses (Quick Study)

25 Nov 2019

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It’s about training yourself to pause. Here's how. Amy Jen Su, author of "The Leader You Want to Be: Five Essential Principles for Bringing Out Your Best Self—Every Day", says that recognizing when you’re about to engage in a bad habit--and being able to find a “magic pause”--is the key. If you’re about to snap at a co-worker, reach for that sugary snack, or micromanage a direct report, there are ways to short circuit these behaviors before they begin. She describes three techniques in detail: having a mantra or…