In our fast-paced world where things are constantly changing, it can be easy to find yourself feeling left behind. Seemingly out of nowhere there can be a new app or product available that everyone is using, or maybe there’s a new trend everyone seems to be following that you’ve never heard of. I’m sure nearly all of us can say we’ve found ourselves stuck in this situation wondering where the heck we’ve been and how we missed it all happening.

Crushing the FOMO (Fear of Missing Out)

Enter our impulses. Just to prevent the feeling, or the reality, that we are “missing out,” we might decide to purchase that new product or join in on the new trend. Without fully considering what problem the new product will solve for us or how the trend fits into our lifestyle, we jump right in because we don’t want to miss out on what so many others seem to be benefiting from. But then a few weeks or months later, we realize that the product or trend actually wasn’t the best fit for us, and it ended up being a waste of our time and money.

While the dynamic of not wanting to be left behind and subsequent impulse purchasing is nothing new, the 24/7 nature of today’s world does seem to have amplified it‚ and its pervasiveness poses a greater consideration for leadership. As a sales leader, do you sometimes rush into decisions without really stopping to think about why you need to be doing it or where you’re starting from?

Don’t Let Impulse Outdo Your Team’s Capacity

The pressure to “keep up” can be intense in today’s working world, so it’s imperative for us as sales leaders to make sure we aren’t making rash decisions. As a sales leader, it is your job to stay on top of industry trends, continually think of ways to innovate, and develop strategies to implement those innovations on your team. However, it’s also your job to recognize what can realistically be integrated on your team. Every sales team is different, and just because something works for one sales team doesn’t mean it’s going to work for another.

Although a product or trend might seem like the next “big thing,” if you aren’t taking the time to stop and think about what it can realistically do for your team, then it’s probably not going to be your team’s “big thing.” A hasty decision made without taking the time to consider how it fits into the bigger picture of your team and what actions you can realistically take towards implementation can result in negative ramifications down the road.

As sales leaders in a fast-paced world, we can all use a reminder to consciously slow down and think before we “jump on the bandwagon.” The success of our sales teams depends on it.