Procrastination and Leadership: A Toxic Mix
How Overcoming Delays and Taking Decisive Action Can Elevate Your Impact as a Leader
“Procrastination is the art of keeping up with yesterday.” — Don Marquis.
Procrastination might seem harmless in everyday life, but in leadership, it can become a ticking time bomb. When leaders delay important decisions, they can stall progress, lower team morale, and risk a company’s future. Here, we’ll explore how procrastination can be particularly damaging in leadership roles and how to overcome it to become a more decisive and impactful leader.
One famous example of a leader who had to conquer indecision was Winston Churchill during World War II. In the early days of the war, Churchill faced mounting pressure, immense stakes, and complex decisions that affected millions. Although he sometimes hesitated, especially when the cost of action was high, he recognized that inaction was a choice — often a far worse one. Churchill famously said, “I never worry about action, but only about inaction.” By embracing this mindset, he became known as a decisive, resilient leader who steered Britain through its darkest hours.
Churchill’s story reminds us that in leadership, the cost of delay can outweigh the temporary discomfort of making a tough call. Leaders who…
