Monday
Oct132008
Procrastination and motivation in the workplace
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Today's daily dose: Procrastination and motivation in the workplace
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Do you enjoy the job you are paid to do?
If the answer is a resounding YES then you are fortunate. Most people I've spoken to over the years, have a few areas that they love to do, and other things they simply loathe. So much so, they procrastinate by doing other things, just so they don't have the time to do those things they don't like to do.
Sometimes called structured procrastination - we know the item at number 1 on our to-do list should get priority - after all, it got the number 1 position. The trouble is, you can't raise the enthusiasm to do it just yet. So you decide that you will do it after you've made a cup of coffee and read your emails. After all, there may be other "MORE IMPORTANT" things that need doing first. And yes there might be other things that need doing - but are they really MORE IMPORTANT, or a distraction from what you know you should be doing?
If you keep your email open during the day, chances are going to be good that you will find all sorts of excuses to keep opening your mail system up just to check to see if anything has been posted. Give over, of course there hasn't you're just procrastinating.
So a couple of things in all seriousness:
1. Check your email first thing. And yes the do it, delegate it, or dump it applies to your electronic mail, just as much as the paper that lands on your desk does. If you have a couple (or more) people who like to send you every joke they can lay their hands on, then you need to add a filter to these people and put these emails into a designated folder to read later....and I do mean later, preferably at the end of the day when you need some transition time between work and home. Then turn it off.
2. Telephones - switch them to voice mail if you can, or advise reception that you are in a meeting and can't answer your phones. The meeting of course is with yourself and the work that you need to do.
3. Calendars - Block out project time, and when it appears - then do the work.
4. Get a job you do enjoy doing - this one is a bit radical, but if you hate your job that much, then find one that you do enjoy doing. But a word of advice, check your attitude before you chuck your job in. If your CV reads like yellow pages because you didn't like a certain job - then you need to determine if it is you and your attitude that needs changing, or whether you need to move into a new line of work.
5. Pretend - act as if you enjoy every moment of the job you are being paid to do. Smile, grit your teeth if you have to, but smile. Tell yourself you are there to work, to be paid for that work and by god you are going to to do the best job you possibly can. Learn from as many different people as you can and when the times comes around for pay rises and assessments, you will be laughing.
6. Do it first - Whatever job you dislike doing - do it first and get it over with.That way you won't have it hanging over your head all day and possibly all week if you keep on procrastinating about it.
So what does motivate you at work?
Is it the people you work with? Is it the location? The fact that it pays well? The great coffee? The job itself? There has got to be something about the job you are currently doing hasn't there? Hint if it is that bad - go back and re-read point number 4 above.
With many thoughts
Elle
Today's daily dose: Procrastination and motivation in the workplace
---------------------------
Do you enjoy the job you are paid to do?
If the answer is a resounding YES then you are fortunate. Most people I've spoken to over the years, have a few areas that they love to do, and other things they simply loathe. So much so, they procrastinate by doing other things, just so they don't have the time to do those things they don't like to do.
Sometimes called structured procrastination - we know the item at number 1 on our to-do list should get priority - after all, it got the number 1 position. The trouble is, you can't raise the enthusiasm to do it just yet. So you decide that you will do it after you've made a cup of coffee and read your emails. After all, there may be other "MORE IMPORTANT" things that need doing first. And yes there might be other things that need doing - but are they really MORE IMPORTANT, or a distraction from what you know you should be doing?
If you keep your email open during the day, chances are going to be good that you will find all sorts of excuses to keep opening your mail system up just to check to see if anything has been posted. Give over, of course there hasn't you're just procrastinating.
So a couple of things in all seriousness:
1. Check your email first thing. And yes the do it, delegate it, or dump it applies to your electronic mail, just as much as the paper that lands on your desk does. If you have a couple (or more) people who like to send you every joke they can lay their hands on, then you need to add a filter to these people and put these emails into a designated folder to read later....and I do mean later, preferably at the end of the day when you need some transition time between work and home. Then turn it off.
2. Telephones - switch them to voice mail if you can, or advise reception that you are in a meeting and can't answer your phones. The meeting of course is with yourself and the work that you need to do.
3. Calendars - Block out project time, and when it appears - then do the work.
4. Get a job you do enjoy doing - this one is a bit radical, but if you hate your job that much, then find one that you do enjoy doing. But a word of advice, check your attitude before you chuck your job in. If your CV reads like yellow pages because you didn't like a certain job - then you need to determine if it is you and your attitude that needs changing, or whether you need to move into a new line of work.
5. Pretend - act as if you enjoy every moment of the job you are being paid to do. Smile, grit your teeth if you have to, but smile. Tell yourself you are there to work, to be paid for that work and by god you are going to to do the best job you possibly can. Learn from as many different people as you can and when the times comes around for pay rises and assessments, you will be laughing.
6. Do it first - Whatever job you dislike doing - do it first and get it over with.That way you won't have it hanging over your head all day and possibly all week if you keep on procrastinating about it.
So what does motivate you at work?
Is it the people you work with? Is it the location? The fact that it pays well? The great coffee? The job itself? There has got to be something about the job you are currently doing hasn't there? Hint if it is that bad - go back and re-read point number 4 above.
With many thoughts
Elle
October 13, 2008 at 18:38
Reader Comments (2)
I agree and that is one of the reasons I get so much done. Do it - regardless of whether I want to, or whether I don't like to. Otherwise my brain is constantly beating me up - you should have done that you know....
Have a great day
Elle