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Mar 05
2013
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HOW DO YOU FIGHT PROCRASTINATION?Posted by Steve Cocheo in Pass the Aspirin The Blog   |
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The Headache: There is more to do for bankers than there is time to do it. And yet procrastination, the thief of time, raises its ugly head.
Our Question: How do you personally avoid procrastination? How do you keep it from infecting your staff?
Come see what other bankers think, and add your own views
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How do you fight procrastination?
"Procrastination is the thief of time." Many of us would get physically violent if someone tried to steal our cash, or that of our bank. Yet this insidious thief has been known to frequent every part of a bank, from the boardroom to the corner office to the teller line. Doubt it? Take a walk around. Check you to do list. Check your email.
We asked our Aspirin prescribers to tell us how they fight procrastination. The really good ones answered us quickly. (A few are still working on their answers, we reckon...)
We heard some good techniques from the bankers. Two that stood out for sheer common sense came from two bankers who quoted their grandmothers.
Bill Grant, chairman and CEO at First United Bank & Trust, Oakland, Md., said his grandmother used to tell him: "A job begun is half done."
McCall Wilson, president and CEO, The Bank of Fayette County, Collierville, Tenn., passed along this grandmotherly Aspirin: "Dreadin's worse than doing."
Share your anti-procrastination points below--and, need we overdo the point ... why not do it today?
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If you would like to join our regular list of "prescribers," to whom we send questions, please email Executive Editor Steve Cocheo today.
Let's hear your views and ideas below! (Editorial Note: Contributions to Pass the Aspirin may also appear in our print edition. While we will ask for your e-mail address, this is only as an aid to verifying identity and will not be used for any marketing or promotional purpose. The e-mail address will not be published.)
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Frank Sorrentino, III, chairman and CEO, ConnectOne Bank, Englewood Cliffs, N.J.
said:
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The Oxford English Dictionary gets closest to the heart of the word. It defines procrastination as a postponement, "often with the sense of deferring though indecision, when early action would have been preferable," or as "defer[ring] action, especially without good reason." (Emphasis added.) So what is the best way to avoid it? Create a culture that does not permit it?and hold direct reports accountable. In our organization we call it "a sense of urgency." We create that environment even when it is not apparent as to why, or no actual deadline looms. If everyone is accustomed to operating in this urgent fashion, procrastination has greater difficulty in taking root. It is the act of planning your work, while you also work your plan. As CEO, I follow an organized way towards management that incorporates the following four actions: Plan, Organize, Direct, and, finally, Check. It is part of my job to plan, and to organize the events and actions required to move our company forward. But planning is not enough ... Providing direction, and directing my reports with a sense of urgency keeps everyone focused on the same goals and deadlines. Incorporating open communication is essential to keep expectations clear and realistic. The final action of "Checking" forces me and those around me to continually evaluate the progress being made, delays that may exist, and acceptable modifications to any plan. Procrastination is the same as a delay resulting from an acceptable thought process, but rather a delay without good reason. "Checking" forces procrastination into the sunlight, and prevents its very existence. A well understood culture is the best way to incorporate these types of disciplines. In fact, it may be the only way. |
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Dan Yates, president and CEO, Brattleboro Savings and Loan Association, Brattleboro, Vermont
said:
| As for myself, every morning I make a list of what I need to get done, whether that day or in the next few days or week. At the end of the day I review the list to see how many items I have been able to cross off and those remaining get put on the next day's list. Institutionally, we developed a simple project spreadsheet utilizing Excel for listing more important tasks. The sheet lists the specific task, details regarding what needs to be accomplished, the individual responsible for completing the task and the date by which it is to be completed. The spreadsheet is maintained on the network and I can review it daily to see if tasks are being accomplished by the due date. | |
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Priscilla W. Lindsey, loan officer II, Pioneer Trust Bank, N.A., Salem, Ore.
said:
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I used to procrastinate about things I didn't want to deal with at work?specifically dealing with tough customers, relaying bad news, or calling about past-due payments. Every time I thought about a nagging issue and didn't do what needed to be done, the problem gained weight?-by the time I did confront the problem it weighed 200 pounds! I discussed this tendency with my boss and he made me realize that if I dealt with the problem immediately it never had a chance to grow. I decided to try dealing with things as they arose, rather than waiting ? and the difference has been amazing. Sometimes I have to give myself a mental pep-talk before I call someone with news they don?t want to hear, but the fact that I force myself to pick up the phone really has made a huge difference in my attitude about work and how I deal with my customers. And, amazingly, when I have those tough conversations, they tend to go more smoothly when I don't have all that extra baggage weighing on my shoulders. |
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McCall Wilson, president and CEO, The Bank of Fayette County, Collierville, Tenn.
said:
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My grandmother used to tell me, "?Dreadin's worse than doing." Back then it meant I was putting off cutting the yard, picking vegetables out of the garden, or helping a neighbor. But with enough prodding from her, I managed to finally start and finished each task. While I would like to say that I have grown up, in truth I have only grown older. I still dread some tasks. In this modern age, technology has helped with Outlook calendars and reminders. We input the deadlines and reminders that give us ample time to complete the task. We have progress meetings and assign leaders to key projects. But in my case, it was my assistant that kept asking me "Have you finished the Pass the Aspirin?" that got me started and finished. Kind of reminds me of my grandmother. |
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Fred Brashear, Hyden Citizens Bank, Hyden, Ky.
said:
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Our bank has developed a committee structure where the main characteristics are flexibility, adaptability, and focus. The key for continued progress is the setting of defined timetables, responsibilities and completion expectation. For a small bank like ours there is considerable overlap but the goal is to limit the meetings to 30 minutes or less. Committees currently operating are: 1. Compliance ? focus on all aspects of the increased burden of the compliance challenges 2. Profit Enhancement ? evaluation of threats and opportunities in revenue and expense that can keep HCB at its historical level of performance 3.Marketing ? monitored the most efficient delivery system for our Community image, involvement and donations 4.Management/Succession ? review all optical aspects of HCB and develop process and training for greater efficiency and set a cross training program for employee and management replacement or retirement 5.Energy Efficiency ? review all aspects of our organization for utility and technology; cost and function. |
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Bill Grant, chairman and CEO, First United Bank & Trust, Oakland, Md.
said:
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The best advice I ever received on the subject was from my grandmother: "A job begun is half done" I use a few techniques to try to make this a reality; although I confess that this is a journey, and I am not sure perfection is ever acquired. I am a great believer in "To Do" Lists. Each day before leaving the office, I list out the tasks that I want to accomplish the next day. I prioritize this by importance, by placing an "A", "B", or "C" by the task. This avoids coming in the next day and wasting time assessing what to do. As each task is completed, I cross it off the list. You will be amazed at the level of pleasure you will derive by drawing a line through the task. Further, at the end of the day you will have the self-satisfaction of seeing how much has been completed through the day. Over time, this tool can be refined to distinguish between the urgent tasks and the important ones. Another suggestion is to start off with the tasks that are the least pleasurable. Get them out of the way early, and move on to chores that are more enjoyable. |
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