Thrill-seeking employees’ addiction to risk can create havoc in the workplace. Managed correctly, however, their fearlessness can be a great advantage to any organization.

People who knew Lawrence Devon, a VP of sales in a large retail group, viewed him as the quintessential sensation seeker—a person who liked taking risks. At times, his colleagues wondered how he was able to manage such a tumultuous lifestyle. He seemed to be able to tolerate more chaos in his life than most people and possessed the enviable ability of keeping his cool when things got tough. Unfortunately, the way he behaved made him very difficult to manage.

When life in the office became too predictable for him, he let everyone know that he was bored and looked for ways to stir things up. Many believed that his bosses only tolerated him because of his stellar record in sales. Devon had always been among the best (if not the best) in acquiring new customers. He was well known for thinking outside the box and was considered one of the most creative people in the firm.

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