I'm watching a colleague engage in mass hysteria while trying to finish a project, a project that was put off until the last possible second and now the entire office is in a hysterical uproar trying to meet the deadline. Alas, this is nothing new. This is the way every project is handled; wait until the last minute, rush about like mad, get hysterical and scream at people. Anytime I see behavior I don't understand I ask myself, "What purpose does it serve?"
I've watched this behavior for a couple of years with this particular individual and I've divined several purposes, but I became of yet another this morning when he screamed at the receptionist, "Don't send anyone back here! We're trying to finish this project by the deadline!"
A Heightened Sense of Their Own Importance
By waiting until the last minute and rushing to finish the deadline, the project is elevated to a higher sense of importance than if it were quietly assembled over the course of a few months rather than a few weeks. If the project on which you are working on is more important, you, by association, are also more important.
Bad Behavior is Justified
The boss is notorious for verbally abusing staff members - on his best days. During the rush to meet a deadline he seems to assume this behavior is now justified and/or excused. Believe me, it isn't.
The Rush
I think there is also an emotional rush in maniacally trying to beat a deadline that is totally missing when you work on something in a well organized and rational way.
Exemption from Error
Throwing something together at the last minute also gives you an excuse for any errors or omissions which might be present. If everyone in the office saw you steadily and systematically work on this project for three months they would be less likely to understand a major mistake being made than if they saw you rushing around madly, putting it together at the last minute.
Ah well, just my humble observations. Anyone else?