Shortsighted Thinking and Weakness of Impulse Control can Quickly End Jobs and Careers

Now former Tampa police chief Mary O’Connor

People don’t always think ahead about the possible risks and sharp consequences of behavior they know to be wrong yet feel compelled to do anyway because they are not controlling emotional self-serving impulses.

Ego and false beliefs about status and power also can play a role in this judgment deficiency.

Sometimes what seems like a good idea in the moment ends up being a self-destructive move soon thereafter.

Here’s just one example: “Tampa Police Chief Mary O’Connor resigns after flashing badge and asking to be let go from a traffic stop” (CNN)

The backstory, per CNN: O’Connor was put on administrative leave after body camera footage taken from a traffic stop last month revealed she told a sheriff’s deputy she was “hoping that you’ll just let us go tonight” and showed her badge, CNN has reported.

O’Connor was a passenger in a golf cart that was pulled over for driving on a road without a license plate tag, according to footage of the November 12 incident from the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office.

As the deputy explained why the couple was stopped, O’Connor asked if the deputy’s body camera was operating and then identified herself as the Tampa police chief. She then asked him to let her go and showed him her badge.

O’Connor apologized to the deputy and then gave him her business card. “If you ever need anything, call me. Seriously,” she said.

O’Connor and the deputy thanked each other for their service, and the couple was allowed to leave.

As for the subject of this story, also per CNN: O’Connor was sworn in as Tampa’s police chief in March, having served the department for 22 years, rising to the rank of assistant chief before retiring in 2016.

Finally, per CNN: The mayor (Jane Castor) has recognized O’Connor’s contributions as police chief, including “reducing violent gun crime, proactively engaging with our community and focusing on officer wellness,” Castor said.

“But these accomplishments pale in comparison to the priority I place on integrity.”

Reputation summary: In short, O’Connor put her boss in a difficult situation in the mayor’s office, with the police department, media and public. Castor risked looking unethical if she turned the other way on O’Connor’s poor judgment and decision-making.

O’Connor’s situation wasn’t helped by the fact that she had warts in her past.

Castor could have allowed O’Connor to stay, after a significant punishment, yet she chose a no-tolerance approach for unethical, corrupt behavior.

O’Connor is learning and will continue to learn a difficult lesson. I’m sure it hurts in multiple ways and will negatively affect her career moving forward.

Will she try to rebuild it or at this point in her life, accept the punishment as career ending and keep a lower profile?

She could prove resilient with the correct, wise response. That will, however, take courage, humility and a willingness to do the hard things.

Not everyone is receptive to that approach and requirement and so they choose instead to endure the hurt quietly or lash out in pained, selfish ways.

Michael Toebe helps successful individuals and organizations further build reputation as an relationship “asset” and ethically, responsibly protect, restore or reconstruct it from damages.