Sometimes executives wonder why their best teams are not delivering as expected. Sometimes organizations wonder why their star employees are not adhering to deadlines. While there may be a plethora of reasons to these, procrastination can be one of the reasons. Most of us might have experienced procrastination at least once in life. With technological advancements, millennials and Gen Z are more prone than ever to procrastination. To add to this, the shift to remote work was sudden, unexpected, and unprepared. Post pandemic while the corporate world prepares to go into a partial or fully remote work environments, procrastination is one of the aspects every organization needs to focus on. It is no doubt that employees procrastinate in physical offices too. But, with asynchronous way of work being the norm in remote culture, procrastination might decrease productivity significantly in the long run. So, here are 5 hacks to help your remote teams avoid procrastination.
Communicate expectations clearly
Let your remote teams clearly understand what is expected of them and when it is expected. Clarifying a project’s objectives, goals and timelines will not only reduce procrastination but also conflict. Moreover, when expectations are understood, employees try delivering better than what is expected.
Follow up regularly
Following up on the progress of a task or project regularly is as important as communicating the deadlines and expectations. Check in to see the progress and ask if your team needs help. Be proactive in listening to feedback from your team and act on it. However, it is important to understand that sometimes executives can turn regular check ins into a culture of mistrust. Do let your employees know that you trust them.
Stop being a perfectionist
Sometimes procrastination is the result of trying to be a perfectionist. While striving to be perfect, your teams might be tired and overlook the overall mission/vision on which they are working. Lead your team towards the vision you want to achieve with compassion. This will keep your teams motivated, focused, and engaged.
Make time for fun
Too much stress can lead to burnout and high employee turnover. Moreover, over time teams tend to get disinterested, lose focus and start procrastinating. To keep employees engaged, make time for fun activities. These activities can be a simple ice breaker session or a day off vacation. These will not only keep employees engaged but also help in team building and team bonding.
Reward your teams
Lastly, it is important that your teams know that right things will be rewarded. When your teams exceed expectations and deliver early, reward them appropriately.
These hacks can reduce procrastination in your remote teams but cannot avoid it completely. The only way to avoid it is to make sure your teams are in love with what they are doing.