Want to improve your productivity in one second?
Make a decision to not accept being interrupted.
Interruptions are one of the greatest destroyers of productivity there is. Yet most of us meekly agree to talk to whoever walks into our office, calls us, or even worse, emails us.
As a result it often takes us ages to complete key tasks.
It’s not just the time wasted while we listen to the interrupters’ usually trivial issues.
It’s the time it takes to re-concentrate on the job we were working on.
I read research recently that showed it often takes people ten to fifteen minutes to get back into the same focused state of mind they were in before being interrupted.
All added up, the cost of interruptions is massive.
The solutions are simple, but not easy.
Block out periods of 30 minutes, one hour, even 2 hours where you do nothing but the task at hand.
If someone walks into your office while you’re concentrating, tell them, firmly, that you will meet them at another time. Or put up a sign saying you’ll be free from a particular hour. Or best of all, leave the office and work in a park, a cafe or at home. Frequently.
This will be challenging for some people, as their bosses and fellow workers will put pressure on them to be available all the time.
Of course there are times when, for the sake of the relationship, you will have to relent and speak to the interrupters. You need to speak out or coach them to be considerate.
But to consistently give in to these people, is to accept that you will be functioning far below your real potential.
And to anybody serious about excellence, that is unacceptable.
This simple business coaching tip for handling interruptions in your work place will improve your productivity significantly.
Business Coaching – The Fortune institute
