Leader perceptions and procrastination

Abstract

So far, I have outlined the reasons why individuals in leadership positions may procrastinate and under which circumstances this is most likely to happen. As mentioned earlier, the act of procrastination may present a threat to leadership effectiveness, and viewed from that perspective delaying decisions can negatively influence the extent to which followers perceive you as a true leader. And followers’ perceptions are crucial in the leadership process. Indeed, in a way we can say that what is in the eye of the beholder makes the world turn round. For example, if you are not perceived as competent, you are not competent in people’s minds. The same logic applies to the issue of leadership. If you are not perceived as a leader, people will not accept your leadership. For that reason, it is extremely important to limit procrastinating behaviours as much as possible.