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SIX WAYS TO BREAK THROUGH PROCRASTINATION BARRIERS IN AGENCY LIFE


I would have written this blog sooner, but procrastination took the lead – and stole the lead I had in mind.

It’s OK, though; it’s a studied setback that the “studiers” say has handicapped us all at one time or another. And procrastination, these studies say, is not always, a problem. Daydreaming, taking a walk or reorganizing your closet before you conquer your to-do list can spark big ideas.

It’s not OK, however, when procrastinating becomes more than a delay and interferes with production. Which is why, in a fast-paced agency environment, it’s critical to overcome procrastination – in its sophisticated form – before it becomes widespread and the scheduling norm.

Whether it’s out of fear, lack of ambition or lack of energy, we’re going to identify five reasons we procrastinate, before we convince ourselves it’s OK to rationalize away, along with ways to defeat it.

1. I can do it tomorrow (because there’s no cost of consequences).
There are several reasons why we put things off with this excuse:

The benefits of completing your project (whether real or perceived) aren’t valuable to you, so you postpone your efforts
The consequences, if you don’t do it, aren’t big enough
You’re comfortable in the position you’re in at work, so you don’t feel the need to challenge or expand your opportunities

2. I don’t have enough time, nor the perfect time. This excuse never feels like one, because you’re always busy, which is acceptable – especially if you’re coming in early and staying late. But you can always set aside 10 minutes of time to chip away at a task on your to-do list. If you start to make gradual progress, great! If you don’t, you may find it exceeds your workload. It may also help not to think of your work as one massive pile, but to focus on a task at a time.

3. I don’t know where to start because it’s too difficult or I don’t understand. If you don’t know the details of your plan of action (priority, deadline, resources, budget) on a project – even the next step – you won’t be able to structure your steps and move seamlessly through the execution. Get all the facts, ask all of your questions and get comfortable with the task.

4. Fear of failure. You may have a desire to try something new and challenging, but what you lack is the belief in yourself to accomplish it, so you put it off. You may even convince yourself that someone else should have been assigned to it. If it’s a task that’s out of your skill set or comfort zone, instead of throwing your hands up in the air and putting it off, collaborate with someone in the know – or take the opportunity to add a skill to your resume and learn it yourself!

5. Fear of success. When you consider success as a consequence, rather than an accomplishment, it may be because you feel you have a lack of control over the process or outcome. No one wants to waste time and energy on a project you know is going to be superseded by someone else or by uncontrollable outside factors. Or, you may not want to deal with the big responsibility and change that comes with success.

6. Catch-all excuse: I’m too tired (or angry, or sad or stressed). If you’re in a bad mood, all you want to do is stop working and start doing something enjoyable, making it easy to rationalize that your work will be done better once you’re in a better mood. This isn’t a bad thing if it helps you refocus. But sometimes, actually working through the lows may be more uplifting.

Tips to Combat the Traps

  • Identify which procrastination pitfalls apply to you.
  • Prioritize your to-dos for all the pending projects that have been on the list too long.
  • And … action! Fix the problem on your own or with someone you trust to hold you accountable. Give yourself timed 5- or 15-minute breaks between projects so you don’t lose momentum. Reward yourself with a treat if you complete your task today rather than tomorrow (or the next day, or the next). Talk about pure motivation with instant gratification!
  • Log out of Facebook! You don’t need to know what your brother’s lunch looked like or how far your best friend ran at the gym. Rid yourself of distraction and get to work.
Tyler

Tyler Easterling

President & COO

An impassioned president with insightful account-management skills, Tyler learned to grow brands during her years working on such prestigious accounts as Celebrity Cruises, the Jacksonville Jaguars, Orient-Express Hotels and Seabrook Island Realty, where she developed a marketing plan that increased sales to $50 million in one year. With the sensibility of a businessperson, the foresight of a visionary and the tenacity of a true leader, Tyler is continuously applauded by clients and agency members alike for her ability to “get things done.” Besides her many work accolades, Tyler counts her family as her biggest blessing and largest inspiration.

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