If you procrastinate, you're clearly not alone.
Research published in the North American Journal of Psychology (2005) found
that 10% of respondents in the United Kingdom, the United States, and Australia
were chronic procrastinators.
It's been said that procrastination is a conflict between what
one should do versus what one wants to do. It reflects our effort to
escape a problem of some sort rather than address it.
There are different reasons why people procrastinate, and thus
different types of procrastination. To tackle procrastination, it helps
to know exactly what type you're dealing with.
Decisional Procrastinators
These people have a difficult time making decisions, which
causes them to postpone taking action.
Tip: If you're having trouble choosing between two
alternatives, maybe you need more data, or perhaps there is a third option you
should be considering.
Avoidant Procrastinators
People who are insecure about their performance or fearful that
their flaws will be revealed may avoid starting or completing a task.
Tip: If the task at hand puts your self-esteem on the line,
don't dwell on producing a final, finished product. Instead, establish
some forward momentum by focusing on an initial draft version.
Perfectionistic Procrastinators
These folks delay finishing a task because they keep trying to
make it better. I had a classmate in graduate school who took almost a
year longer to get his degree because he simply could not stop revising and
refining his dissertation - even when his advisors told him that it was just
fine!
Tip: Remember that perfection is as much in the eye of the
beholder as it is in the eye of the procrastinator. Others might find
your finished product to be compelling, useful, and/or satisfying. Why make
them wait to see it?
Arousal Procrastinators
These individuals delay the start or completion of a task
because they don't find it interesting or thrilling enough. If you've
ever tried to get a teenager to mow the lawn or asked an employee to fill out
an expense report, you understand the concept. Even if the task is
relatively captivating or important, arousal procrastinators will frequently
drag their heels. They seem to get a "rush" out of racing to
beat approaching deadlines. As my nephew once proudly declared, "if
it wasn't for the last minute, nothing would ever get done!"
Tip: Threats and punishment don't do very much to extinguish
this behavior. You may accomplish more by modifying the situation to
create alternative rewards. For example, if you have employees who are
chronically late turning in expense reports, why not sponsor a competition to
see who can develop an easier, more automated report system?
