Procrastination in the system
Why does everything have to take so long?
Why does everything have to take so long?"
"Why do simple things take longer than they should do?"
Whether you are an experienced executive, someone just starting in your career, or perhaps an external service provider with approval to start an engagement or a visionary entrepreneur, it can be frustratingly reassuring to know that nearly everyone will regularly ask those questions. Rarely will everyone be happy with the speed of decisions, hence my assertion of procrastination in the system.
Speaking to several executives, coaches and consultants recently, I concluded that the age and size of organisations are at least partly to blame. We can better understand this effect with an understanding of the seven stages of organisational life:
Dreaming the dream
Launching the venture
Getting organised
Making it
Becoming an institution
Closing in
Dying
Stages 1 and 2 feed off fast, rapid growth and decision making - failed experiments to see what works, leading to iteration and innovation. Stages 3 and 4 still occur at speed, but the organisation is required to bring order to a chaotic situation. And organisations that have experienced rapid growth now need to introduce standardised ways of doing things.
Stage 5 and onwards are where things slow down. The emphasis from stage 5 is from doing to being, a subtle but profound change. The result is the organisational imperative shifts from taking and staking out territory (growth and expansion in the first four stages) to occupation, with the inevitable complacency creeping into the system.
Could this natural course of development for the organisation when the institution starts to lose its vital connection with the external world be an underlying cause for the delays and increased time is taken for things to happen?
Organisational silos where no one feels or wants to be empowered to make the decision. So under pressure, people ask others for their review and approval before giving the go-ahead to proceed. Of course, this seeking of opinion and approval could be carried out quickly via a series of focused phone calls, but that is often not the chosen route. Instead, asynchronous emails are usually the "easier" route. With the inevitable friction introduced as the email gets quickly fired off, requesting review and sign-off. This means that one person asked for their opinion on one point results in a full review that brings in many people who are now required to sign off. Senior, time and attention short people will often task their teams to look into it, which may only happen in the regularly scheduled weekly meetings.
What are your experiences, and is there procrastination in the system in which you operate?
📫 - Favourite quote
"Your lack of preparation doesn't constitute my emergency."
If we allow everyone else's to-do list to replace our own, we delegate control to others, and our days will inevitably be replete with emergencies. Keep in mind that our time and attention are two of the most vital, scarce, and non-renewable resources we have.
🧾 - An absorbing and insightful (short) read
A thought-provoking, robustly researched and well-written piece by Tanmoy Goswami on Resilience within the workplace and how it has unfortunately become a buzzword, acting like internet catnip. An alternate viewpoint recognising that "Resilience is a forced response to distress..." and that "Organisational resilience has had human costs."
🐣 - Something I am doing differently or entirely new
In a past newsletter, I acknowledged that the many miles of running each year are gradually taking a toll on my knees. I asked for suggestions for something new to replace at least a portion of my running time (but it couldn't be cycling). Thank you for the helpful advice that came back. I am pleased to say that I have been using a jump rope as an alternate form of exercise for the past eight weeks. While I am not entirely sure it achieves the aim of reducing the impact on my knees, I can happily confirm it is a great physical workout. Not only that, but I have been enjoying learning something completely new. I haven't "skipped" since a very early age at school, but actually, it is a form of exercise that boxers clearly appreciate but isn't particularly mainstream, at least here in the UK. For anyone interested, check out CROSSROPE. I use their app to guide my workouts and teach me how to boxer jump, freestyle, one-foot jumps and eventually cross overs and double unders. Who said you can't teach an old dog new tricks? 🐶🤣
⚖ - Et cetera
Perhaps the following will provide insight and be of help with a problem you are currently facing:
Do you need a new perspective on a challenge you're struggling with?
Are you starting a new role and want to make a positive impact and quickly establish credibility?
My latest article is here - "12 essential skills to get ahead that you won't have been taught"
The RYSE Journal - referred to as "Headspace for professional development".
Please keep your comments and feedback coming in. Even if it is a quick email to say hi for the first time in a while.
All the best, until next month.
Rob