There’s nothing wrong with taking a break, but you know procrastination when you see it. Let’s talk about how to recognize the signs of procrastination and stop the cycle of excuses and delays, so you can achieve more success in life and in business.

If you have ever been a leader, manager, or business owner with employees, you’ve experienced what it’s like delegating an important task under deadline. From experience, you’ve probably learned who you can trust to complete the task well, and on time, when others fall short.

Have you ever delegated a time-sensitive task to an employee only to find them making excuses, waiting until the last minute, or wasting time when they should be working on your project?

It probably got you fired up.

So, here’s a question for you: If you don’t tolerate procrastination from others, why would you ever tolerate procrastination from yourself?

First, let’s establish that no one is perfect, and no one is completely procrastination-free, every moment of every day. However, you can spot a habitual procrastinator anywhere. Listen closely as I share seven common signs of a procrastinator.

1. Procrastinators are often overly optimistic about completing complex tasks in little time

2. Thinks and says they work best under pressure

3. Easily distracted and loses focus when there is no urgency

4. Delayed start (because they have a false sense that everything is under control, so there’s no need to jump into it immediately)

5. When no progress has been made, they offer reassurance that everything is under control

6. Action driven by panic (the realization that everything is not under control)

7. Scrambles last minute, working hours on end to complete a project minutes before the deadline.

Taking what I just mentioned about a procrastinator into consideration, answer these 3 questions I’m about to ask you.

Question #1

Do you recognize any of these signs in employees or coworkers?

Yes No

Question #2

How many of the seven characteristics I mentioned have you experienced at any time in your personal or professional life?

0-1 2-4 5-7

Question #3

How often do you find yourself exhibiting these habits?

Rarely Sometimes Frequently

There’s no right or wrong answer to Question #1 – procrastination is a common characteristic and often encountered in the workplace.

If you answered 0-1 in Question #2 – you probably tackle every day and professional tasks head on without delay. If you answered 2-4, you may procrastinate sometimes. If you answered 5-7, definitely keep listening!

If you answered rarely to Question 3, that’s good – you’re probably not a habitual procrastinator. If you answered sometimes, there’s room for improvement. However, if you answered frequently – we have some work to do.

The key is to discover the root cause of your procrastination, so you can correct it. Most procrastination is commonly rooted in one or more of the issues I’m about to share with you.

1. Low self-confidence: When you’re feeling insecure about your ability to complete a task, (forget about completing it well), you probably delay it to avoid feeling “stupid.” Truth be told, you have more than enough smarts to figure it out. The good news is that the more times you tackle a task head on – and are successful – the easier it is to stop procrastinating.

2. Perfectionist: You’re a perfectionist and nothing less than stellar is acceptable. Give yourself a break and let go of trying to be perfect. Given your high standards your best is probably far above par.

3. Rebellion: Procrastination may be your way of expressing your rebellion. A sort of “You can’t tell me what to do, I’ll do it when I’m good and ready.” This probably didn’t work when you tried to use it with your parents (or it did work and that’s why you use it as an adult), but it definitely will NOT work with your boss. If you’re an entrepreneur – well, you’re just shooting your own foo