Overcoming Procrastination

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However, more than others, some individuals adopt procrastination as their typical and standard behavior. They tend to postpone most of their tasks, often not only work-related ones.

We call them procrastinators (or serial procrastinators if you like): they repeatedly and unnecessarily postpone decisions or actions. In some cases, they never take action, continuously finding excuses; in other cases, they complete the task or decide under pressure of urgency when it is impossible to push it back further.

Procrastinators usually do not postpone their actions or decisions due to their thoughtful evaluation of risks and benefits. They focus on more satisfying tasks or often don’t prioritize at all, which leads them to operate in a “reactive mode,” similar to a “first come, first served” approach.

In my coaching experience, procrastination is often unrelated to self-control and time management. Still, it stems from two main issues that, if appropriately addressed, can help individuals become more proactive and efficient.

Procrastination and Self-motivation

Some people postpone tasks until they become urgent and require immediate action. A typical example is pushing back the preparation of a document until the submission due date.

Beyond all the reasonable excuses, procrastinators wait for the very last day to complete it because they unconsciously seek a sense of urgency and the adrenaline of missing the deadline to get the energy to complete it. They know they can successfully operate in the so-called “fight or flight” response mode and tend to recreate it, even when unnecessary, to get to the same level of focus and performance.

Low self-motivation, namely the ability to act without influence from other people or situations, is at the root of these behaviors.

As Tony Robbins says, “Self-motivation is turning your shoulds into musts. It is encouraging yourself to continue progressing toward a goal even when it feels challenging“.

If you struggle to motivate yourself, you might need to reconsider your goals and, most importantly, reconnect with your purpose. Why do you do what you do? If that “why” is not inspiring enough, you might want to consider finding a new sense of purpose or choosing a new direction.

Procrastination and Accountability

Some individuals delay their decisions not because they want to be cautious and gather more information to choose the best course of action but because they fear exposing themselves and making mistakes.

In this case, procrastination has to do with our ability to be accountable and own our decisions and the results of our actions, including our mistakes.

Leaders with the tendency to procrastinate more or less consciously wish they didn’t have to choose. They often long for the situation to unexpectedly change or for someone else to decide. Waiting until the very last minute and deciding under time pressure can also help them justify themselves if the decision does not bring the expected outcome.
In these cases, improving your accountability will increase your proactivity. You can start by assessing the emotions and meanings you attach to your role and self-image and shifting the focus from reactive to proactive.

In a nutshell, instead of being concerned about making the wrong decision or a false move, what can you do to be effective and ensure that your choices bring the expected results?

Procrastination in Team Dynamics

The effects of procrastination on an individual are clear. They range from decreased productivity and effectiveness, reduced credibility, and reliability to heightened stress and, in some cases, burnout.

But what happens to a team when its leader or some members constantly delay their tasks or decisions?

The team will frequently abandon the standard procedures, roles, and responsibilities to operate under “emergency” or “exceptional” circumstances and keep up with deadlines and last-minute choices. Task prioritization will be continuously under discussion, and the pressure and urgency will increase demotivation, tensions, and conflicts among team members and other stakeholders.

When procrastination affects a team’s dynamics, you must intervene to solve individual issues with delaying tasks and decisions and increase the team’s resilience and ability to break the cycle and restore sustainable routines and consistent performance.

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