Why business owners procrastinate and how to resolve
Like a proverbial rabbit caught in the headlights, it is easy for a small business owner to procrastinate and not take action.
By the time they usually get round to it, the opportunity has gone or another task has taken it’s place.
Not taking decisive action stunts growth, creates confusion and overwhelm and leads to stagnation.
It often feels like you’re juggling flaming torches. With so much to do and not knowing where to start, procrastination can creep in quickly, leading to missed opportunities and unnecessary stress. From the many conversations I have had over the years, here’s why small business owners procrastinate, and how can they overcome it.
Why procrastination happens:
- Overwhelm: Small business owners wear too many hats – marketing, accounting, customer service (none of which put fire in the belly) which can lead to decision paralysis
- Fear of failure: High stakes make some tasks feel intimidating, causing avoidance. If you don’t take action, you don’t fail right!
- Perfectionism: The need to “get it right”. Polishing apples rather than proceeding with good enough can delay action
- Lack of clear priorities: Without clarity on what’s most important, it’s easy to focus on less critical tasks. Delaying the difficult tasks in favour of volume euphoria keeps you busy but not productive
- Fatigue and burnout: When energy is low, due to loss of mojo, even essential tasks can seem insurmountable
You will recognise some, if not all of these and recognise the impact they have. So what can you do to overcome the procrastination and start to move forwards at pace?
How to break free from procrastination:
- Set SMART goals: Break tasks into Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound goals. Instead of “improve social media presence,” commit to “schedule three LinkedIn posts every week.” Small, actionable goals that can be measured and you can see the result are easier to tackle
- Adopt the two-minute rule: If a task takes less than two minutes, do it immediately. This minimizes the mental load of lingering small tasks (and a large to-do list) and boosts productivity
- Prioritise with the Eisenhower matrix (my 4D tool): Categorise tasks into four quadrants: urgent and important (JFDI), important but not urgent (diarise), urgent but not important (delegate), and neither (delay or delete). Focus your energy on the first two to clear the most beneficial. You can access my 4D tool here
- Time block your diary: Set time slots in your diary to tackle certain tasks (emails, proposals, marketing, bookkeeping, meetings, social media et al) and stick to the schedule. Use a timer to remind you to finish up and move on
- Accountability partner: Having an external person to hold you to account, helps unlock any blockages and encourages you to take action. Commit to doing task X by Y date/ time and you will be more compelled to take action
By understanding the root causes of procrastination and implementing these strategies, you can start to regain control of your time and energy. Progress, not perfection, is the key to growth – do 100 things 1% better rather than one thing 100% better.
Start small today and stop procrastinating! Small changes lead to big results, it’s time to get started.
What tools have you used to eliminate procrastination and take action?
