Leadership Tip

How to stop procrastinating

Procrastination may feel like the human condition, but it doesn't have to. To get out of your own way and increase your productivity, try these three tactics:

  1. Set deadlines. Create a schedule with clear due dates for each task. Remind yourself by using visual cues: Set reminders in your calendar, add items to your to-do list, or put a sticky note on your computer screen.
     
  2. Ask for help. Ask a trusted colleague to review your work. Knowing that she's expecting it can spur you to get started.
     
  3. Change your mindset. Stop thinking of yourself as a procrastinator. See yourself - and talk about yourself with others - as someone who gets things done.

 


The above leadership tip...
was sent in response to a question from a participant on our 10/10 leadership development and mentoring programme and adapted from Don't Sabotage Yourself by Susan David. Whether you're a first time manager or an experienced leader, straightforward, practical advice on best practice is hard to find. Until now. To find out how you, your team or your organisation can benefit, please join us on our next complimentary webinar or contact us.

 

Subscribe

Free weekly email on things you didn't know last week with links to articles on leadership excellence. To view previous editions click here.


Learn how to lead effectively

Gleaned from wisdom acquired by working with hundreds of highly successful leaders from the world of business, media and sport, our workshops are fortified with practical tips to help you better lead yourself, your team and your business.

Read More

Leadership Articles

10 ways to build your team

Everyone would like to be part of a dream team - a group of people, each skilled in their own discipline, pulling together to achieve more than they ever could alone. Yet while most organisations talk about teamwork, they still tend to reward individual... read more

10 weekend habits of purposeful leaders

The most impactful leaders know that success doesn’t come from working around the clock - it comes from working with intention. And that includes how we spend our weekends. While weekdays often revolve around performance, the weekend is a chance to reset... read more

10 actions for effective communication

High-quality communication is an essential element in business and organisational performance. Effective communication relies on engaging with people, having a commitment to building strong and productive relationships and realising that we communicate... read more

Leadership Tips

How to keep those resolutions

January is when intentions are declared. Leadership is what happens after the declarations fade. Leadership isn’t about heroic starts, it’s about boring consistency. January rewards enthusiasm. February rewards discipline. If you want resolutions -... read more

How to survive the festive break

Christmas isn’t a test of stamina or social compliance; it’s a leadership exercise in energy, boundaries and judgment. Those who navigate it best don’t try to do more, they choose more carefully. Managing yourself well over the festive break is often the... read more

How to be an inspiring leader.

In my experience, inspiring leaders rarely rely on charisma or title alone. They earn followership through consistency, clarity and behaviour over time. Inspiring leaders play three roles well: visionary, exemplar and mentor. They understand that... read more