Procrastination = Discomfort

At some point in our lives we have all experienced some level of procrastination, but why do we do this?

We chose not to do that thing to avoid the feeling of incompetence, essentially we don’t want to look bad or show ourselves up. So we AVOID by doing something else that is irrelevant to the desired outcome, we shift focus to save face. Even if we know that we have not assigned the task to any other human, we still avoid it and remain incompetent… (it's a recipe for disaster)

I have noticed however that the more open you are to experimenting the more likely you are to get closer to the objective and succeed in creating a business that actually works and is enjoyable to lead where you don't do everything.?

Take innovation programs, I have spent a bit of time over the past few years working with teenagers on innovation programs. The stark difference between teenagers in these programs and business owners who may either be clients or students in a business course that I deliver is, that the kids come in NOT knowing what to do - with a “show me, tell me what to do, I need help” mindset and in contrast, the business owners come armed with a barrage of “yeah been there done that mentality- it didn’t work, not doing that again” mindset, they also come in thinking that they are their own silver bullet.?

The difference however could be huge if the adult learned from the teenage innovator.?

Innovation programs give you the freedom to try stuff out

So why not treat your new marketing ideas like an innovation incubator?

What does that mean?

It means you bring your passion and your enthusiasm to the project?as a collective

It means you experiment, you try, you dig a bit deeper without preconceived ideas of what it all means.?

It means you put the right people in the right roles to begin with and try not to do everything yourself

You won’t be able to be passionate and enthusiastic and procrastinate-it’s not possible.?

SO - Define WHY you are innovating and stick to the reason when making decisions about the outcome - purpose fuelled projects are much easier to be part of, because the desire to succeed is enormous.?

Anticipate potential threats/risks/ possible errors before you start - you may be your own worst enemy if you try to be the silver bullet.?

Then?

Break the project down

Review your Targets-understand them and their problem and link to the passion to solve the problem?

Look at your proposed solution and ensure it solves the problem in hand?- pivot if it doesn't.

Think of your business as though it were in MVP stage, you have a prototype (your business) but you understand that it might need to pivot to be successful.?

Sometimes you need to completely redevelop the whole idea and / or team. That’s ok. It’ll be an incremental process to reshape the original concept into something with a stronger foundation and better prospects.?

Once past the MVP stage and you have the validated, qualified idea you can then start thinking about the HOW. How should and your team produce, deliver, manufacture, install, (whatever it is) your thing

So most importantly - You should think about your team - do you have the right people on the bus and are they skilled enough to carry out the experiment - or do they need some training? Keeping the team pumped up and on task is a job in itself - don’t forget it.

Then you think about the customer experience - how will you get the customer you defined to choose your thing, now that's a mix of marketing, sales techniques and having the right people in your team who have the ability to build relationships and communicate with the other humans who will be buying your thing.?

Teenagers are good at defining what their skill set is, they almost pre silo themselves into people person, technical wiz, engineer, marketing go to and data driven genius.?

Adults tend to think they can do it all. Hint - it’s unlikely that you can wear all those hats comfortably.? This is where the procrastination monster knocks on the door. You have decided to put a hat on that really doesn’t suit you.? So what do you do - you pop the hat you like the most and find most comfortable and wear it to death, but you haven’t given anyone else the other hats to wear. (WARNING: imminent disaster looms)

So if you think you’re going to succeed without having all the right people wearing the right hats in place - you are mistaken. You will likely procrastinate until the cows come home, achieve very little and burn out. Stop it.?

You can close the door to the procrastination monster by being focused, enthused, being a good leader with a great plan and the most equipped and well curated team, but that all requires planning and a little innovation / experimenting.?

If you would like a deadbolt to lock out the procrastination monster banging on the door - then perhaps it's time to think about mentoring, educating yourself and the team on your skill gaps and learning how to run effective meetings that pinpoint direction, iron out the creases and provide guidance in the form of 90 day plans.

Check out Next Level for the answers to your procrastination woes and barriers to success.?Innovation is on the Next level.

https://angiehammond.com.au/next-level/ ?