I am currently fascinated by the power of a positive mindset. Having recently completed Dr Chris Johnstone’s Positive psychology course, I have been inspired to bring an element of positive psychology into my coaching work. Read more
I have yet to meet anyone in my personal life or amongst professional coaching clients that is not a polished procrastinator in some field or other.
Whether it’s a difficult conversation with an employee or colleague, tackling those expenses or simply clearing the paperwork on your desk, procrastination seems to get in the way. As a coach, when working with someone who is feeling frustrated or stuck, procrastination is often one of the behaviours that are getting in the way.
This is not an easy question to answer. We mostly know that if we just did it – got on with it and moved on to the next task, we would rid ourselves of the internal self talk that beats us up for not doing it. We know that we waste time and head space on finding other things to do rather than the one we don’t want to. Often, when challenged, we actually have no reason for not doing it. The not doing it, or not liking doing it has actually become a habit.
Procrastination is actually a habit. Something you adopt and it becomes second nature. Until you become aware of it and realise it’s not so useful and is holding you back. Like any habit, we need to change the thought process and challenge those beliefs. If you find yourself spending time ordering files on your computer or surfing the internet for information you could probably do without, in order to avoid the task you don’t like, then challenge yourself to do it. Make a rule if that helps, that you will do your expenses / call that person/face up to that difficult job at a designated time every day or week. This, after a period of time will become the new habit. Prepare yourself for a few slips, where you convince yourself you don’t have to do it, forgive yourself and get back on track!
A coach can help identify why you are putting so much effort into avoiding this task. Often it is due to entrenched beliefs that you have or have developed. Careful questioning will allow you to explore this and find out there is actually little reason to avoid the task. An example of this is speaking to colleagues or staff if there is criticism to be made. Few people enjoy confrontation, and many have bad memories from earlier in their lives – maybe they developed a dislike because something happened, or maybe it’s as simple as their inheriting a dislike of confrontation from their parents. Once explored and identified, it is much easier to shift the beliefs and start “just do”ing it. It can take some practice, but after a while, you will look back and wonder why you allowed the procrastination to go on for so long!
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In my work as a coach, be it with senior executives in all sorts of organisations, managers, company directors or sole traders, no matter how successful they are, most lack self-confidence.
Outwardly, these people often seem self-assured, with a healthy dose of self esteem. They seem to know what they’re doing and where they’re going, but as soon as they sit down , they tell me about their doubts and anxieties. They worry about what others think and many confide in me that they are “just waiting to be found out”. Many successful people are concerned that someone will find out that they are faking it. They fret about being exposed as someone who doesn’t know anything and should never have been given the job! Read more
