Transcript
Doing things quicker.......unblocking yourself from procrastination
Don Garford
Doing things quicker Unblocking yourself from procrastination
Programme
• What is procrastination?• Some common causes of
procrastination• The “side effects” on performance• Some practical techniques for making
the breakthrough
Procrastination
To defer action – be dilatory
A credit card
The thief of time
Procrastination
Solomon and Rothblum, Journal of Counselling Psychology, 1984
....the intentional delay ......
.....to the point of discomfort.
.... in the initiation or completion of important tasks...........
Types of procrastination
• Decisional – not taking the decisions• Behavioural – not doing what
you’ve decided to do• Completion – not “handing in”
even though it’s finished
Functional
A “two minute” conversation – take “1”
When and why?
Turn to the person next to youOutline a recent time when you procrastinated
and what caused you to procrastinate
Common causes of procrastination
I can do it anytime
I’m scared to fail
I don’t like doing it
It’s not urgent
I’m too busy
It’s just so big
Conflict as something “productive”?
none some a lot
The side effects on performance
Low urgencyhigh urgency
Lowimportance
Highimportance
Necessity Productivity
Deception Thoughtlessness
The “urgent” thingWhat the Deming has found about the
quadrantsLow urgencyhigh urgency
Lowimportance
Highimportance
24%
58% 2%
16% 25%
14%
60%
1%
Average organisation
Excellent organisation
What sort of work occupies each zone?
Productive Strategy
ReflectionRelationships
Thoughtlessness Trivia
timewasters
Deception Interruptions
Necessity Crises
Deadlines“surprises”
Turn to the person next to you -tell them which box you tend to operate
and how you feel about your work when in that “box”
A “two minute” conversation – take “2”
Which box are you?
What effect does working in each zone have?
Productive In controlMeasured Content
Thoughtlessness Bored
Peripheral“What shall I do today”
Deception Frustrated
Can’t to see the point“Chasing tail”
Necessity Excited/edgy
Scared Burnt out
“Losers tend to escape from their fears and drudgery with activities that are (temporarily) tension relieving.
Winners are motivated by their desires toward activities that are goal-achieving”
Denis Waitley
The side effects on performance
Some practical ideas for unblocking yourself
12 ideas for unblocking yourself
3 ideas about things you can do
3 ideas about “performance management”
3 ideas about the way you think
3 ideas aboutplanning
3 ideas about the way you think
• Imagine you are yourself tomorrow• Replace “fear of failure” with
learning• Recognise the task may take you
somewhere new
Imagine you are yourself tomorrow
Replace “fear of failure” with learning
Freedom to fail
Fear of failure
Recognise the task may take you somewhere new
Anxiety zone
Learning zone
Comfort zone
3 ideas about planning
• Decide what really matters• Decide what you can actually do• Decide when to do it
Decide what really matters
“Things that matter most must never be at the mercy of things that matter least”
Decide when to do it
3 ideas about “performance management”
• Appoint an accountability officer• Have a “reward” or
“consequences” ready• Make a commitment to someone
else
Appoint an accountability officer!
Consequences or reward
3 ideas about things you can “physically” do
• Think on paper• Gather all your ingredients• Give it 5 minutes
Think on paper
Gather all your ingredients
Give it 5 minutes
And don’t forget your own attitudes
The “response factor” model
Capacity for change
Comfort with
change
Response factor model The “types”
Overwhelmed
BSer Learner
Entrenched
Comfort with
change
Capacity for change
Response factor model Their fears
Overwhelmed
BSer Learner
Entrenched
Being left behind
Not learningRevelation
of truth
Uncertainty of the future
Response factor model Behaviour in transition
Overwhelmed
BSer Learner
Entrenched
Withdraw
Active engagementAggression
Clinging to past
Response factor model Motivating each type
Overwhelmed
BSer Learner
Entrenched
Close supervisionSafe workForced
self-awareness
Latitude“Air time”
Strong assignments
Help and supportProvision of a
safe environmentMini-challenges
UnderstandingCoaching and straight talk
Phased in work
Turn to the person next to youDiscuss what we’ve covered
Tell them what your taking away and why?
A “two minute” conversation – take “3”
What does it all mean for me?
jdi
jfdi
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