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DOI: https://doi.org/10.15507/1991-9468.26303.520-536

UDC 159.94:331.105

 

The Relationship between the Level of Procrastination and Perfectionism in Managers

Ekaterina I. Sapego
Cand.Sci. (Psychol.), Associate Professor, Associate Professor of the Chair of Personnel Policy and Management Psychology, Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Belarus (17 Moskovskaya St., Minsk 220007, Republic of Belarus), ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7621-2382, Researcher ID: I-5806-2017, SPIN-code: 7513-9017, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Abstract
Introduction. Leadership requires leadership qualities and a well-designed structure, tailored to subordinates who unconsciously mirror their attitude toward work, level of motivation, and degree of responsibility. Excessive pursuit of perfection can lead to perfectionism, while procrastination is incapable of achieving success. A review of the scientific literature revealed no studies on the relationship and its level between procrastination and perfectionism in female and male leaders. Consequently, it remains unclear whether these phenomena are extremely dangerous or harmful to management and whether they need to be corrected or compensated for. The purpose of this study was to document the level and relationship of procrastination and the type of perfectionism in leaders by gender.
Materials and Methods. The study methodology was based on A. Bandura’s social-cognitive theory of personality. The study was conducted in 2025–2026 at the Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Belarus among 120 executives (67 women and 53 men). Procrastination was assessed using K. Lay’s “Procrastination Scale”, and perfectionism was assessed using the “Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale” questionnaire by P. Hewitt and G. Flett. Statistical data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics and correlation analysis using nonparametric Spearman rank tests and the nonparametric Mann – Whitney U-test.
Results. Leaders exhibited an external average level of procrastination and high levels of self-focused and overall perfectionism. Procrastination and perfectionism were more pronounced in male leaders. At the initialization level (p < 0.05), a negative relationship was found between procrastination and perfectionism; no significant gender differences were found. Lower levels of self-focused and overall perfectionism were associated with higher levels of procrastination in leaders. Recommendations for overcoming procrastination and perfectionism in leaders are presented.
Conclusion. The results will be useful to managers in understanding the behavior and thinking that lead to procrastination and perfectionism; to psychologists and psychotherapists of organizations and HR-departments for diagnosing and addressing management problems; to business coaches and teachers for inclusion in management training programs to reduce the risk of procrastination and perfectionism; and to researchers for scientific research into the relationship between the phenomena under study.

Keywords: procrastination, perfectionism, managerial self-criticism, management effectiveness, the relationship between procrastination and perfectionism

Conflict of interest: The author declares no conflict of interest.

For citation: Sapego E.I. The Relationship between the Level of Procrastination and Perfectionism in Managers. Integration of Education. 2026;30(3):520–536. https://doi.org/10.15507/1991-9468.26303.520-536

Availability of data and materials. The datasets used and/or analysed during the current study are available from the authors on reasonable request.

The author has read and approved the final manuscript.

Submitted 02.04.2026;
revised 02.06.2026;
accepted 09.06.2026.

 

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