Seven Reasons Why We Procrastinate
If you count on others to complete assigned tasks, you’ve undoubtedly noticed there are some who jump right in and others who seem to consistently delay taking action until the last minute, if at all. Whether it’s your employee, boss, peers, client, kids, spouse or yourself, there is always some rationale when you ask “why”. Chances are the procrastinators’ responses would show that they are operating under one or more of these common reasons:
1. They label themselves as a procrastinator which acts as a self-fulfilling prophecy. When they
don’t take action their belief that they truly are a procrastinator is reinforced.
2. They jump to conclusions about the outcome. They often make assumptions that it probably
won’t work anyway so they essentially give up before they start.
a. Fear of failure/disapproval – afraid to disappoint themselves or others.
b. Fear of success – they’re worried about any potential negative consequences associated
with an initial success (e.g., not playing the lotto so they won’t have to worry about
paying taxes on the winnings).
3. They are perfectionists (or claim to be). They are so afraid of making a mistake that they are
paralyzed. They want guaranteed success before they start and want to control every aspect
of the project/task (clearly impossible if anyone else is involved).
4. They are overwhelmed by the task or their workload. When unsure of where to start, they
often spend considerable time trying to figure out the perfect plan rather than taking action.
If they are burned out, procrastinators often delay action in hopes that the task will be
assigned to someone else.
5. They’re frustrated, angry, or resentful about getting the assignment, so they resist doing
it. This is common when procrastinators feel they have been charged with “fixing” a problem
that someone else created and perceive it as unfair.
6. They have a low tolerance for frustration. They expect easy and rapid results and are
unprepared or unwilling to deal with obstacles that arise. When pressed, they often suggest
that the actions necessary aren’t “worth the hassle.”
7. They undervalue the rewards associated with completing the task. If they don’t see a
sufficient payoff for their effort, they won’t exert any.
By understanding the reason behind someone’s procrastination, you may be able to help them take action today…not tomorrow.
If procrastination or other performance issues are interfering with your ability to reach your organizational objectives, please contact Kammy Haynes.
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