How is Your Workplace Procrastination?
Thinking about your day-to-day behavior at work, please
choose the most accurate answer for each question –
almost never (1) , once in a while (2) , frequently(3),
all the time (4) – write
down your numbers on a sheet of paper, tally your score
when done, and refer to the interpretation
descriptions at the bottom of this page.
Q1. I regularly put off starting tasks,
projects and activities I don’t enjoy doing.
1 - Almost never
2 - Once in a while
3 - Frequently
4 - All the time
Q2. Even when I have a specific deadline,
I wait until the last minute to take action.
1 - Almost never
2 - Once in a while
3 - Frequently
4 - All the time
Q3: When I have to make a tough decision
I put it off as long as possible.
1 - Almost never
2 - Once in a while
3 - Frequently
4 - All the time
Q4: Even though I feel bad when I don’t
get started on an important task, this rarely motivates
me to get going.
1 - Almost never
2 - Once in a while
3 - Frequently
4 - All the time
Q5: I am regularly late for meetings
and appointments.
1 - Almost never
2 - Once in a while
3 - Frequently
4 - All the time
Q6: I find myself needing to ask for
time extensions on work due.
1 - Almost never
2 - Once in a while
3 - Frequently
4 - All the time
Q7: I regularly say to myself “I
will do it tomorrow”
1 - Almost never
2 - Once in a while
3 - Frequently
4 - All the time
Q8: I have lost business, or damaged
relationships by putting things off.
1 - Almost never
2 - Once in a while
3 - Frequently
4 - All the time
Q9: Even when I am excited about starting
a new project, I have trouble initiating it.
1 - Almost never
2 - Once in a while
3 - Frequently
4 - All the time
Q10: I can easily lose my focus and become
distracted by trivial matters.
1 - Almost never
2 - Once in a while
3 - Frequently
4 - All the time
top of page
Score interpretation:
10 – 15: Congratulations! While
you may experience a bit of normal procrastination here
and there, you are not a chronic or problem procrastinator.
To improve your get-it-done muscle even more try the following:
Determine a high priority item that you would like to work
on. Go through your calendar and schedule a specific day
and period of time when you will work on the item. Time
periods ranging from fifteen minutes to two hours are the
most effective. Every hour schedule a ten-minute break from
your task. Don’t just plan your time in your head—write
it down! Studies show that 75% of individuals, who set a
specific time and date to complete something, do!
16 – 25: While you are not a serious
procrastinator, you could benefit from using a priority
system that makes you more effective and efficient. Resist
the lure of the trivial by using a priority system based
on achievement and importance, not crisis and time sensitivity.
Here’s how: Write down and review all the items on
your to-do list for the day. Next, determine which items
would move you closer to achieving your most important work-related/career
goals. Assign those items an “A” priority—regardless
of how time-sensitive or urgent they may or may not be.
Every workday for the next week do at least one “A”
priority item from your list. At the end of the week, you
will have focused your energy (five times at least) on achieving
your objectives.
26 – 32: Procrastination is having
a negative impact on your work life and career. One reason
may be that you feel overwhelmed with all the things you
have on your plate. Try employing the technique of chunking
down to help you take action more quickly and easily. For
example, take an item that you keep transferring from day
to day – or from week to week – and break it
down into a series of mini-tasks. In other words plan out
what small steps you can take that would seem doable—physically,
mentally, and emotionally.
33 – 40: You have a serious case
of procrastination and need to evaluate the impact that
this is having on your professional accomplishments and
relationships. Most serious procrastinators find themselves
getting distracted by technology. Email, voicemail, instant
messaging and the Internet - wonderful tools but when they
cause constant interruption they can make it almost impossible
to focus at work. Draw a line by creating some technology
free times. For example: Turn off your cell phone during
business lunches, meetings or trainings. Don’t check
you email and turn off the alert when working during a designated
period of time. Log off of instant messaging when you need
to focus on getting something done. |
