absenteeism absentmindedness accidents administrative tasks always reacting arguments attempting too much avoidance being overwhelmed being tied to the phone breakdowns burnout calls to friends changing priorities children clutter conflict conflicting priorities continuous open door policy crises from lack of planning defective software and equipment disorganized boss or partner disorganized office or workplace distractions doing other people's jobs doing too many things doubt drop-in visitors eating/snacking emergencies equipment failure excessive daydreaming television excuses failure to delegate failure to listen fatigue fire fighting getting stuck in emotions gossip headaches housework inability to act inability to say "no" inbox indecision ineffective software ineffective tools and equipment inefficiency inefficiency of others inefficient equipment inefficient filing interoffice travel interruptions junk mail and e-mail lack of authority lack of deadlines lack of direction and objectives lack of internal support lack of knowledge lack of priorities lack of response lack of self-discipline leaving tasks unfinished long coffee breaks long-winded callers | looking for things losing things low company morale meetings - ineffective meetings - too long meetings - too many, unnecessary menial tasks messy environment mistakes negative thinking newspapers no-shows not enough time not learning lessons outside activities over-analysis over-planning paper shuffling paperwork peer/staff demands perfectionism personal disorganization pets poor attitude poor communication poor decision making poor delegation poor filing system poor focus and concentration poor information management poor planning poor skills, training poor time management postponed decisions prefer to "do it myself" preoccupation procrastination reading rather than skimming reading unnecessary material red tape redoing something reluctance to delegate repeated handling of correspondence revised deadlines running errands scattered mind scattered resources shopping sickness slow reading socializing spreading yourself too thin staffing issues stress telephone interruptions too much work to do travel time unclear job description unclear purpose unnecessary meetings unplanned projects unprotected prime time untrained staff writer's block writing minutes |