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You probably know that inner voice that pops up throughout the day and says: “Hurry up. You need to get this done as fast as possible!”
“Hurry up” is one of the strongest inner drivers many of us have. Think of internal drivers as the motivators behind our thoughts, decisions, and actions.
“Hurry up can feel like a little figure on your shoulder with a stopwatch whispering:
“Time is running out. You need to move faster.”
This driver often develops when speed is consistently rewarded—through praise for fast results or pressure not to “dawdle.”
Our brain starts to link speed with safety and success. We rush to tick tasks off and clear them from our minds. Over time, this becomes automatic. The moment we start something, the inner stopwatch begins:
We often feel a sense of urgency, cut corners, and sometimes skip essential steps.
The “Be quick” driver does have benefits: we make decisions fast, tackle tasks immediately, and get things done.
However, it becomes a problem when it becomes our unconscious default, and we lose control of it.
In daily life, it manifests as nervousness and rush, which increases the risk of careless mistakes.
We get impatient, listen less, and reach for quick, sometimes superficial solutions. Even after finishing a task, we barely switch off. Instead, our mind jumps straight to the next item and all that’s still ahead.
The solution is to find a healthy balance and only lean on this driver when time truly matters.
Balance is key when it comes to managing inner drivers
If you notice rising stress or a decline in quality, consciously hit the stop button and say no to the inner timekeeper.
That way, what used to be an automatic, problem-causing reflex becomes a deliberate skill you use to get things done effectively and on time.
Here are five coaching tools to help you consciously use and manage your inner drivers.
Sources and Resources:
- Transactional Analysis in Psychotherapy von Eric Berne
- Inner Drivers – How to Master them and eliminate Stress
