Everyone procrastinates, but unfortunately when you’re in an office, there’s usually someone above you that’s also procrastinating and sooner or later you’re the one that’s going to have to pay for their lack of initial enthusiasm on the project. Here are 5 signs that the rush deadline now on your calendar is the result of boss procrastination:
1. The project is delivered when you’re not there. You arrive back at your desk from lunch and it’s mysteriously been placed in your in-tray. It’s not uncommon for it to even materialize from under other papers that have been in your tray for a few days, but you can stop wondering if you’re going mad, it’s just a ploy that the boss uses to try and make you think that you’re responsible for the fact you’re now going to be working overtime for the next 3 days in order to get this complete on time.
2. Every time your boss sees you he asks how the project is coming along. He wants to know how far you’ve got, and although he stresses that he doesn’t want to put pressure on you, he reminds you of the impending deadline and wonders if you’re on track to completing it on time.
3. Whenever the person who needs the project rings him, your boss tells you to say that he’s not available but that you’re sure he’s completed the project.
4. There’s a note on your desk telling you that there are some papers on his desk that you need to have a look at while he’s gone. No urgency, but if you could take a quick look-see today just to make sure he hasn’t missed anything important he’d really appreciate it. There, about halfway down, you see the report with the “URGENT” stamp emblazoned across the front. The project is dated March and it’s now the middle of August and all your boss has done is scribble a note on the top saying “sort this and return”.
5. Someone rings you and asks for the report that your boss says is on your desk. It’s not there – but you know it’s on its way!