8 Tips for Managing Interruptions at Work
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- First of all, accept that interruptions are a part of life. They are just going to occur. When they do, it is important to not let yourself feel thrown off track.
- Keep a record of your interruptions to identify when they happen most frequently, where and by whom. Look for patterns and then ask yourself how you can best manage and minimize them. Assess the impact of interruptions on your team.
- Allow enough time for interruptions in your daily schedule. Don't schedule yourself so tightly that you can't allow for the unexpected.
- When interruptions do occur, try to keep them short if at all possible. You might ask someone to send you an email, voice mail or fax instead.
- Don't hit "Reply All" in an email unless it's fundamentally necessary and you need a reply back from everyone. Learn practices to better manage your email.
- Actively minimize your own distractions. Turn off your email notifications. Don't feel you have to respond every time the phone rings or answer every email immediately. It's important to actively carve out "Quiet Time" when you will not be interrupted while working on an important task that needs all your concentration.
- Prioritize your daily to-do list and train yourself to go right back to where you left off after the interruption. Don't use it as an excuse to lose track of your focus.
- Finally, think before you interrupt someone else. This way you won't be contributing to the problem. By taking responsibility to minimize other's interruptions, you can greatly improve workplace productivity.
Article author
About the Author
Susan Cullen is President of NexaLea
ing. She is a leading coach and trainer, helping organizations improve their personal and organizational productivity. For over twenty years, Susan has developed and provided a variety of programs for management and leadership development. She is also a co-author of the book “101 Great Ways to Enhance Your Career”.
For more information to increase your personal or organizational productivity, please feel free to contact us.
NexaLea
ing
800-683-0681
www.nexalea
ing.com
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