Page 197 - End Procrastination Now Get it Done with a Proven Psychological Approach

Applying Techniques to Address Procrastination in the Workplace 161

Stay Flexible. I’ve seen many people stick to a plan when the cir-
cumstances had changed so radically that they figuratively were
joining lemmings in a rush over a cliff.
Preparation is important, and so is being nimble and adaptive
in the face of surprises. The principle of acceptance of uncertainty is
that when the unexpected is discovered and needs to be managed,
solutions may be invented “on the fly.”
Unless there is good reason to the contrary, it is normally bet-
ter to trust to your inventiveness when you are facing uncertain
conditions, especially when unexpected events abound. The alter-
native is to play possum or join the ostrich with its head in the
sand. However, putting your head in the sand won’t stop what is
coming your way.
The predictabilities in the procrastination pattern increase
your chances of exercising control over the process, provided that
you also establish control over the productive process. So, plan to
address procrastination by introducing a competitive productive
process.

Scenarios to Get Past Procrastination. Needless anxieties can arise
from worrying about “what if situations,” such as, “What if I were
to fail?” What if I were rejected?” Because this form of scenario
thinking reflects a sense of vulnerability and uncontrollability, it
fertilizes procrastination, However, scenarios can prove to be
highly productive, providing you pose alternative scenarios to
yourself, extend the outcomes, and select the one that holds the
best promise. In this form of productive scenario you focus on
productive problem solving, the kind that can support constructive
and sustainable change. Solving the problems through scenarios
creates the framework for a plan.
You’re thinking of creating a Web site to sell replacement au-
tomobile products for vintage Cadillacs, such as fan belts, spark
plugs, and ignition wires. You plan to learn how to create and
maintain the Web site, negotiate agreements with product manu-