How to Make Yourself Work When You Just Don’t Want ToHeidi Grant Halvorson  |   Harvard Business Review Feb14, 2014

GIRISH CHANDRA ANANTHANARAYANA

CDPRESOURCES.COM | 25TH FEB 2014

Plans. Plans. Plans!

Many of us have many ideas and multiple plans, but no actions to implement those plans

Procrastination is a disease that infects the majority

Most postpone their plans to their deathbed and repent after their have missed the train!

Frustration of Failed Planning

There is a gap between planning and taking action, so most people fail to achieve what they aspire fore

Guilt, stress, and frustration - just a few of the emotions people experience as a result of failed planning

They beat themselves up or engage in self-pity “I wish I had done it”; “I had the same great idea”; “I wish to

go to gym but somehow cannot push myself to it” etc etc

There is Good News

You can make yourself do the things you don’t want to, not just because you are actually supposed to! 

You could be much happier and more effective

Right strategy can help you stop putting off

This is MY opinion on the matter ….

Mind is one’s best friend and worst enemy

Procrastination depends on how one perceives TOSS Self – EI, beliefs, values, strengths, weaknesses, qualifications

Situations – past experiences, current situations, market conditions

Others – perceptions of others, social status, fear of being judged

Task – perceived difficulty of the task; this involves 3 factors: TASK TYPE, OUTCOMES, PROCESS

Why Do You Procrastinate?

Why Do You Procrastinate? Heidi Grant Halvorson proposes the following

Figuring out which strategy to use depends on why you are procrastinating in the first place: Reason #1 - You are putting something off because you

are afraid you will screw it up

Reason #2  - You are putting something off because you don’t “feel” like doing it

Reason #3  - You are putting something off because it’s hard, boring, or otherwise unpleasant

Reason #1: Afraid of “screwing it up”

Solution:  Adopt a “prevention focus”

Research shows that by adopting a promotion focus one is motivated by the thought of making gains, and works best by feeling eager and optimistic

Anxiety and doubt undermine promotion motivation, making one less likely to take any action at all

Instead of being bogged down by doubt, thrive on it

Reason #1: Afraid of “screwing it up”

Prevention focus - instead of thinking about how you can end up better off, you see the task as a way to hang on to what you’ve already got – to avoid loss prevention motivation is actually enhanced by anxiety about

what might go wrong When focused on avoiding loss, it becomes clear that the only

way to get out of danger is to take immediate action 

More worried you are faster you are out of the gate

Reason #1: Afraid of “screwing it up”

“There is probably no better way to get over your anxiety

about screwing up than to give some serious thought to all

the dire consequences of doing nothing at all”

“Go on, scare the pants off yourself.  It feels awful, but it

works”

Reason #2 - you don’t “feel” like doing it

Solution: Make like Spock and ignore your feelings. They’re getting in your way

“Who says you need to wait until you ‘feel like’ doing something in order to start doing it?” - Oliver Burkeman

You don’t need to feel like doing it – throw that idea to the garbage and take necessary action

Most great people pursued what they did even when they did not feel like doing it, or were uninspired

“Inspiration is for amateurs.  The rest of us just show up and get to work.” - Chuck Close

Take right action whether you got the feeling for it or not

“So if you are sitting there, putting something off because

you don’t feel like it, remember that you don’t actually

need to feel like it.  There is nothing stopping you”

Reason #2 - you don’t “feel” like doing it

Reason #3 - it’s hard, boring, or otherwise unpleasant.

Solution:  Use if-then planning

Studies show that people routinely overestimate their capacity for self-control, and rely on it too often to keep them out of hot water.

If-then plan - more than just deciding what specific steps are needed to complete a project. It’s also deciding where and when you will take them.

If it is 2pm, then I will stop what I’m doing and start work on the report I need to work on

If Karen does not bring up the issue of salary, then I will bring it up again before the meeting ends

By deciding in advance exactly what you’re going to do, and when and where you’re going to do it, there’s no deliberating when the time comes.

If-then plans dramatically reduce the demands placed on your willpower by ensuring that you’ve made the right decision way ahead of the critical moment

Reason #3 - it’s hard, boring, or otherwise unpleasant.

Going beyond…

Realize your TOSS and the consequence to it if action is not taken

Task – Assess the task and its importance Task Type – how important and urgent is the task – prioritize

Outcome –not taking action will anyway result in negative outcome. Taking action may even have a positive possibility

Process –HOW TO DO IT, is often the challenge. We can know the HOW by doing it; without venturing we would never know

Concluding

Heidi’s suggestions are extremely interesting, and different. I took some time to comprehend – particularly the Solution #1, but they are valuable and unique

Most of us have STOPPERS and need to identify and overcome those stoppers – I recommend that you read my blog http://www.girishchandra.com/?p=300 - what is stopping you?

Create the Momentum you want, because we are Momentum Beings – we are what we set out …. http://www.girishchandra.com/?p=269

Thank You!

www.CDPResources.com

www.Girishchandra.com