Page 47 - End Procrastination Now Get it Done with a Proven Psychological Approach

Perspectives on Procrastination and Awareness for Change 15

table 1.1 (continued)
Procrastination Style Awareness and Action Model

Disapproval avoidance procrastina- Awareness: It’s normal to want to
tion refers to a habit of avoiding get along with others. However, do
disapproval by playing it safe, you bend over backward to avoid
avoiding conflict through appease- disapproval at significant personal
ment, and avoiding actions or situ- cost? Do you avoid standing up for
ations that could lead to criticism. your rights and procrastinate on
Blame avoidance procrastination making efforts to learn appropriate
is sometimes present as well. Self- assertive skills?
protection is common. However,
avoiding disapproval is practically Action: Consider what you want to
accomplish in your interpersonal
impossible. The cost in lost oppor-
tunities tends to be steep. relations. If your goal is to feel
like you are on an equal footing
with others, then what steps can
you take to curb procrastination
on learning to be authentically
self-expressive?
Blame avoidance procrastination. Awareness: If we stuck with blame
We live in a blame culture, where as a means of assigning responsi-
blame and blame avoidance are bility, we’d need fewer lawyers.
normally a big issue. In blame Nevertheless, blame is a common
avoidance procrastination, you factor in organizations, and a
avoid situations that could result in better way to avoid blame is to
criticism, and you seek to cover up keep moving ahead while others
for perceived faults and failings. procrastinate.
Blame is intended to maintain a
positive public image. Blame avoid- Action: Think about areas where
ance activities include such things you can assert control over your
work and develop yourself into an
as finger-pointing, spin control,
cover-up activities, loophole seek- expert in those areas. You’ll have
ing, and excuse making. Organiza- less concern about blame. When
tions are hotbeds of blame you invest time in developing your
competencies, your work value
avoidance activities.
increases, and blame is less likely.
An elegant solution is to defend
your positions without having to
defend yourself, to act to give your-
self unconditional self-acceptance.