Why Procrastinating Can Make You a Better Leader?
Lead Smarter, Not Faster
Maybe right now you're thinking about an important task you’ve been meaning to do for days, and that inner voice is asking: When are you going to do it? Why haven’t you done it yet?… Well, if this sounds familiar, let me tell you that procrastinating can actually help you make better decisions.
When you think of a leader, you probably imagine someone who acts quickly, plans thoroughly and executes without delay, right? The image of someone who never leaves anything to the last minute. However, the most creative and effective leaders aren’t always the ones who act quickly — they’re the ones who know how to leverage moments of pause to reflect and let ideas mature.
This “conscious procrastination” allows ideas to “incubate” and leads to more creative solutions. So, if you lead a team, I encourage you to cultivate an environment where reflection is valued. Don’t be afraid to pause! When done with intention, procrastination is a powerful tool for fostering creativity and deeper thinking.
If you need to make an important decision...
Allow yourself strategic pauses in major projects so ideas have time to mature.
Don’t confuse destructive procrastination with strategic procrastination. The former is about avoiding work; the latter is about improving outcomes.
Encourage creativity in your team by giving them space to think before executing.
Remember: Leading isn’t always about racing to the finish line. Sometimes, it’s about knowing when to stop and think.