Scouts tips on how to stop procrastinating at work.
Ever wished that you could just be that person who can fire out directives to others at the drop of a hat with confidence and stop worrying about every decision you have to make?
Most would say that there is definitely a natural ability to be able to do this, but there are some pointers to be noted about bring the ‘D” for Decisive up a notch, especially if this is what is required in your current role.
- Get your feelings under control
Before you can tackle your indecisiveness, you will need to try to get your feelings under control so you are able to think more clearly. Try to remain calm in the work place, even if it is chaotic around you – think ‘swan’ (calm and floating on top, working hard underneath). Get out of the office once a day, even if it is for 10 minutes for a swift walk. Failing that, close your eyes and count to 10 slowly if everything is really getting on top of you and before you answer that horrendous email from the Client.
- Create deadlines for your decisions
There is nothing like a deadline to increase decisiveness. If you can get into the habit of creating personal deadlines for the day-to-day decisions you have to make, this will increase your ability to make the bigger decisions when you are required to. Start simple and achievable and then work up from there.
- Reward yourself
Take a moment to acknowledge your new found decision making abilities as soon as you have made it and actioned it – give yourself a virtual pat on the back and be proud. It may seem like baby steps but you will soon realise that you are congratulating yourself every day.
- Failure is your friend
Avoiding failure will end up avoiding success. So you may well make a wrong decision along the way – pretty much everything in this life can be undone so take comfort in the fact that if it is a wrong decision, you can be decisive about changing it!
- Practice, practice, practice
So you have taken steps to controlling your feelings and remaining calm in the office, you are getting used to setting mini deadlines for the daily decisions you have to make, you have given yourself a ‘high 5’ for your decisions and you have made peace with Failure. It is said that anyone can become an expert after 10,000 hours of practice – you better get cracking then!
Rebecca x
