Double Your Brain Power

Ah, laziness – that all-too-familiar label we slap on anyone who prefers a Netflix binge over a stack of paperwork or who seems to treat deadlines like vague suggestions rather than hard stops. We’ve all heard it, and let’s be honest, we’ve probably used it. But what if I told you that laziness is a myth, an illusion masking deeper issues?

For over a decade, I’ve led teams in various business environments, observing countless employees grappling with deadlines, procrastinating on tasks, and missing critical project milestones. From promising candidates missing job application deadlines to team members agonising over a single project for months, the pattern is clear and familiar. But here’s the kicker – I don’t believe laziness is ever at fault. In fact, I don’t believe laziness exists at all.

As someone deeply interested in psychology, social anthropology, and sociology (admittedly an unusual thing for a business-person and entrepreneur), I delve into the situational and contextual factors driving human behaviour. If you want to understand why someone behaves a certain way, look beyond their personality or intelligence. Instead, consider their environment, the social norms, and the situational constraints they face. When an employee misses deadlines or struggles with tasks, the question to ask is: what are the barriers holding them back? What needs are unmet? What invisible hurdles are they facing?

Psychological research supports this perspective. A seminal study by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi on “flow” states found that individuals are most productive and engaged when they are in environments that support their autonomy, competence, and relatedness. These findings suggest that when employees appear disengaged or lazy, it is often because these fundamental needs are not being met.