Co-active coach and procrastination expert Juliet Landau-Pope inspired us to think a little differently in her fascinating talk on the Work Life stage, in partnership with Google, at this year’s Stylist Live. From procrastination to the lure of ‘looking busy’ in our jobs, most of us have a complicated and, at times, frustrating relationship with being productive.
Her tips on how we can better spend our time, energy and effort on the things that really matter had all of us taking notes. Here are five stand-out ideas Juliet shared to give you some momentum:
1. Stop asking ‘why’, start asking ‘what’
“One of the main reasons people avoid important tasks or difficult conversations is because the focus isn’t clear. Come up with a concrete, tangible ‘what’ and you’re more likely to achieve it.”
2. Focus on the first step
“All of us get overwhelmed by projects that seem immense. Scale it right back to just sitting down at your desk and opening your laptop or finding the number of the person you need to call.”
3. Eat the frog
“Eat that frog is an idea that comes from Canadian-American business consultant Brian Tracy. In the workplace, what this metaphor translates to is: look at your to-do list and find the thing that you least want to do, and do that first.”
4. Make yourself accountable
“There’s a lot of research that shows that if you make yourself accountable to someone else, you’re more likely to complete a task. What’s really key is the language that you use. When you say ‘I need’ or ‘I should’ do something, it taps into guilt and shame, which are not motivating feelings. But when you say ‘I will’, you’re being intentional and you can’t wriggle out of it in the same way.”
5. Let go of perfectionism
“Often, the reason we put things off is because we’re afraid of not getting it right. When we’re procrastinating, it’s worth asking: is it a life or death matter, or is ‘good enough’ going to be fine? You can usually afford to lower the bar and let yourself off the hook. Remember it’s better done than perfect.”
