Procrastination: Beating Workplace Drag Personally And Organizationally

At some point in our lives, we have all put off our responsibilities until the last minute. Whether it was a paper in college or that load of laundry piling up, sometimes it just seems easier to wait until later. However, when it comes to the workplace, procrastinating can lead to missed deadlines, opportunities and even sales. You can beat the workplace drag at the personal and professional level with just a few quick tips.

Personal Procrastination

No one shows up to work with the mindset of avoiding all of their duties for the day. However, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen. Thankfully, there are many ways to combat that day-to-day drag. Becoming self-aware, setting goals and eliminating distractions are great ways to get yourself out of the endless procrastination cycle.

·        Become Self-Aware

If you are reading this, then you have probably already accepted that you need some help staying on track. That’s great! Just knowing that you need to make adjustments is a step in the right direction. Identifying patterns of behavior or activities that distract you can help prevent that procrastination that creeps up so easily.

·        Setting Goals and Deadlines

Another way to beat the drag is to give yourself a few deadlines. Use a calendar on your desk or wall so you can visually see when each of your tasks are due. This will not only keep you on track but will also hold you accountable.

·        Eliminate Distractions

Finding and eliminating your distractions can be the hardest part in ridding yourself of personal procrastination habits. Scrolling through social media and chatting with friends at work are ingrained habits that can make the day a little more bearable. However, they can also put you critically behind which adds on pressure and stress you could have otherwise avoided. Take notice of your habits and see if you can eliminate or adjust them. Put your phone away until you break and save those conversations for lunch.

Company Procrastination

Sometimes, procrastination-type behavior can be altered by making organizational changes. Although many of these behaviors have to be dealt with by making personal internal changes, there are things a company can do to help. Accountability, restructuring tasks and rewards can be effective measures for combating workplace drag.

·        Accountability is Key

It can be hard to keep track of each employees’ everyday tasks and completion rates. However, within your company, you have a huge network of people that can hold each other accountable. Whether it’s pairing people up for particular projects or having small teams with a team leader, some reorganization can effectively keep things on pace.

·        Change Task Assignment Structure

Another easy way to keep things in check is by changing the way projects are assigned and tracked. There are tons of free and paid programs that can help you assign tasks to employees. They also keep track of progress so that each team member can visually see where each other are. This can help you identify any strengths and weaknesses within the team and assign tasks accordingly.

·        Rewards for Completion

This is one of the simplest, yet most effective, principles you can implement. Offering small bonuses, extra time off or even a long lunch can be an easy way to incentivize employees to stay motivated. Not only does this help beat workplace procrastination, but it can even create positive changes in work output and goals.

Putting things off until the last minute can negatively affect both yourself and your career. Whether you need to change your personal habits or restructure company policies, a little work can go a long way. If you need help with employee and management development, Skywalk Group can help!