procrastination

Emergent Leaders Newsletter/035/Transforming Procrastination Lies into Leadership Success

In the fast-paced world of leadership, the ability to take decisive action and lead by example is paramount. Yet, many leaders find themselves entangled in a web of procrastination, telling themselves lies that delay crucial support to their direct reports and impedes the progress of projects.  

 

In this week’s newsletter, I call out five common lies leaders tell themselves to justify procrastination and shed light on the negative consequences it has on their teams. If any of the following 5 lies resonate with you (as in, you frequently use one or some of them), take notice. Fortunately, it’s not all doom and gloom. Procrastination is a habit that can be changed. You simply need a more compelling reason to shift to more proactive leadership habits.  

Here goes! 

Lie #1: "I'll get to it later." 

The reality: Delayed support equals delayed success. 

Let’s be real - we ALL say this at some point. But if it becomes a pattern, then it’s a habit. In leadership, this is probably the most common one hear - especially when it comes to addressing their direct reports' needs later. However, postponing mentorship and guidance can impede the growth of team members. Procrastination not only stifles individual development but also creates a culture of inertia within the team, hindering overall progress. And if you have high potential team members, you will risk losing them.  

 

Lie #2: "Once I complete this project, then I'll focus on my team." 

The reality: The project never truly ends. 

Leaders tend to convince themselves that once a particular project is completed, they will shift their focus to team development. However, in the ever-evolving landscape of leadership, there is always another project/crisis/reason on the horizon. The delay in supporting direct reports persists, leading to missed opportunities for growth and innovation. Learning needs to be an integral part of each of your team members’ schedules. It is the only way to ensure continuity in their growth. 

 

Lie #3: "They'll figure it out on their own” or “It's character-building."  

The reality: Neglect breeds frustration and disengagement. 

Allowing direct reports to navigate challenges on their own under the guise of character-building can lead to frustration and disengagement. This doesn’t mean doing the problem solving or work for them. It could be as simple as acting as a sounding board. Procrastination in providing guidance can cause team members to feel undervalued and disconnected, ultimately impacting their performance and morale. Again, high-potential team members are more likely to leave because of this.  

 

Lie #4: "I'm too busy; they'll have to wait." 

The reality: Busyness is a choice; priorities reflect values. 

Leaders often use busyness as an excuse for delaying support to their teams. However, effective leaders recognize that prioritizing their team's development reflects their values. Procrastination due to perceived busyness sends a message that the team's growth is not a priority, leading to diminished trust and motivation. 

 

Lie #5: "I was successful without much guidance; they'll be fine." 

The reality: Times have changed; coaching, mentorship and sponsorship accelerate success in today’s extremely competitive environment. 

Some leaders believe that because they succeeded without significant guidance, their direct reports will also thrive independently. However, the dynamics of the workplace have significantly evolved. Coaching, mentorship, and sponsorship are now recognized as catalysts for accelerated success. Procrastination in providing these supports deprives team members of valuable insights, lessons learned and potential future career opportunities. 

 

As a leader, your actions speak louder than words. If you don’t openly model and shift the behaviors that you expect to see in your team members, then it’s difficult to blame them for the team’s lack of success. If you say that continuous learning and development is important to you, then prove it to your employees.  

In case you’re looking for a more compelling reason to shift some of the procrastination habits, try this: Imagine a future where your proactive leadership habits prevail and your team is filled with dream employees who thrive under your thoughtful guidance and support.  

Though this doesn’t have to stay a vision. It can become the reality IF you are willing to carve space in your schedule (and theirs) and create conditions to allow growth to occur. Remember that leadership isn’t just about achieving personal success; it's also about empowering others to reach their full potential. By acknowledging and dismantling the lies that fuel procrastination, you can pave the way for a future where all your team members transform into dream employees.  

If you are looking for a more customized leadership development experience, leadership coaching may be the better option to get you to your professional development goals faster. Book a complimentary “Discovery Call” to discuss your goals and see if working with a leadership coach might be the way to go. 

Emergent Leader Newsletter/004/Using Clarity To Beat Procrastination And Increase Engagement At Work

Read time: 4 minutes 

Many would label procrastinators as “lazy”. I think they’re wrong – I think so-called procrastinators simply lack clarity! 

New leaders notoriously squeeze out some aspects of their less familiar leadership responsibilities and fill their time by doing things they are more comfortable with – things they already know how to do, and know they are good at. Though with time, this escapist strategy catches up with them. Some of their leadership priorities don’t get addressed – and this is when the pressure and overwhelm kicks in.  

SO, what’s the REAL problem with procrastination? 

We’ve all beat ourselves up at some points (or many – no judgement!) for not acting quickly enough on some project(s). What emotions surface with knowing you didn’t live up to expectations? Some may experience frustration, embarrassment, anxiety, insecurity, resentment, among others. These emotions drag us into a negative loop. And in turn, this loop shuts us down and works against future productivity, resulting in a downward trend in our work output, our mood, our relationships, ….  

“I work a LOT but can never seem to get ahead...” 

When staring at a seemingly growing list of to-dos, which type of “task tackler” are you? Do you... 

  1. choose the most urgent item, but only under the high pressure of a looming deadline?  

  2. pick the thing that will take the least amount of effort and time to complete? 

  3. “lose” the list all together and forget about what you should be doing by completing other tasks on autopilot? 

  4. suddenly get fed up with the list and commit to working extra hours over the next few weeks to finally tackle it? 

Either choice will lead to you feeling productive but only for a brief period. What you need to ask yourself when looking at your extensive list is: “What will get me closer to satisfying my priorities and achieving my goals?” Rather than simply crossing off everything on the list, you need to be more intentional about HOW you spend your time.  

Being disciplined in how you prioritize your time is necessary to get what you need to get done and reduce the chance for procrastination to kick in. To be able to prioritize, you first need clarity around what’s truly important for your success professionally and personally. 

Gaining clarity on your goals/responsibilities (What needs to get done?) 

To move past the noise of all the to-dos, first determine your priorities. This will figure out which items on your list should be addressed first (if at all). Ask yourself these questions: 

  • What is the reason for my role? 

  • What would help make me successful at my role? Which deliverables do I need to take ownership of? 

  • What tasks on my list relate to my role? Which ones should I delegate?

  • Which ones are irrelevant and could be removed from the list - or at least saved for later?

Now, of the tasks related to your role, place them in priority/urgency. Base your decision on facts: realistically, what should be done first? When should it be completed by? We can relieve a lot of pressure by looking at our list objectively. Otherwise, we tend to create false unrealistic deadlines in our minds or underestimate how long tasks take to complete. 

Often, we also feel compelled to check things off our list simply because they’re there. If we can gain clarity around what’s important/urgent, can be delegated, pushed out and dropped, we can greatly reduce the length of our to-do’s, which is motivating. Shorter lists make it easier for us to focus more of our attention on fewer things.  

Gaining clarity on your values (What do you want to get done?) 

The ticket to motivation is having your to-dos aligned with your values. Sure, not ALL things are fun. Sometimes we really do just need to buckle down and get things done. But the more awareness you have around your values, the easier it is to decide what should truly be deserving of your time and attention.  

Take a moment and look at that daunting list of to-dos of yours and again, ask yourself these questions:  

  • Is there something that’s been on my list for what seems to be forever?  

  • Is there a particular project or task that just gets pushed back or never seems to get addressed? 

  • Without thinking of the process, which task, if completed, would relieve the most pressure and bring you the most sense of completion, satisfaction and accomplishment? 

  • Is this item a remnant of an old wish list I can now let go of?

  • Is this aligned with my values and life goals? If not, What’s preventing me removing it from the list?

  • Is the timing of this appropriate?

Timing your to-do's 

  • Before rushing to set times in your calendar to get things done, reach out to others who may need to be involved. Make sure they also have the time/resources that match your proposed timeline to complete your project. 

  • Once confirmed, put things in your calendar – and respect these time blocks as you would someone else’s schedule. This includes the final goal, milestones, expectations. For each time block you have scheduled, break down your projects into manageable chunks and make sure to be clear about what needs to be completed during that time. By including the desired outcome in your notes, you take away the time you would spend just thinking about what you should be working on and can get right to work. 

  • Time your tasks for times you are most likely to be in flow with them. For example, I am a morning person and therefore prefer to do more detail-oriented tasks earlier in the day, while leaving more creative tasks for afternoons/evenings. Some tasks just feel more natural to complete at certain times of the day. Work with this to help you gain momentum.

  • Post the final goal where it is visible so that you are constantly reminded of what you are working towards.  

Next time you struggle with procrastination, hit the “pause” button and take the time to think through your list to ensure the items that appear on it are in service of your goals and priorities.  

Then shift your focus from “frustration” to the “why” and the “how” to complete your task. This will help you be well on your way to a more productive day. 

Whenever you are ready, there are 2 other ways I can help you:

1. If you are still looking to further improve your leadership skills, let me recommend starting with an affordable course:

→ The New Leader’s Survival Guide: Time Management 

→  Stand Out From The Rest: Communicate Like An Effective Leader  

2.  If you are looking for a more customized leadership development experience, leadership coaching may be the better option to get you to your professional development goals faster. Book a complimentary “Discovery Call” to discuss your goals and see if working with a leadership coach might be the way to go.