One Thing To Do To Reduce Procrastination
From the Eye on the Workforce Blog
by Joe Wynne
Workforce management is a key part of project success, but project managers often find it difficult to get trustworthy information on what really works. From interpersonal interactions to big workforce issues we'll look the latest research and proven techniques to find the most effective solutions for your projects.
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If only we could do one thing that would help workers and team leads get started right away on their tasks rather than wait. Sean McRea at Germany's University of Konstanz and his crack team may have something for us, now that they have shed some light on procrastination.
After a series of three studies, the team concluded that people act faster when they are instructed with concrete terms, as opposed to abstract terms. Guided by abstract information, on the other hand, people tend put off starting tasks, even when they pay a penalty for procrastination.
So what's the bottom line? Whenever you provide instructions or guidance for a task, make sure you prepare and make the guidance clear and concrete. Eliminate abstract language. (Once you have workers thinking abstractly, you set them up for procrastination.) Make concrete language a standard in your project for instructions and guidance documents.
Posted on: February 16, 2009 07:53 PM |
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Hans Robbers
Senior Director| Salesforce
Vlissingen, Netherlands
It might be one of the reasons for procrastinaition but please keep in mind 49% of the studnets reacted. In my expereience you need to adapt your style of management dependent on the individual; some would appreciate clear instructions and straight forward tasks where others prefer to have an abstract question with a clear deadline.
You might even argue it depends per person in the mood or the circumstances heor she is in. People who experienced a sad event recently need often more guidance, read clear instructions, as when they are happy.
Thanks for posting an interesting topic
Hans
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