Managing Your Workday Interruptions
taying focused is vital to
accomplishing your goals If a co-worker stops to chat and
and being productive. you're busy doing something,
During the workday, several kindly tell them that you're in
interruptions may keep you from the middle of a project and that
getting your job done. How should you will stop by to see them when
you deal with these types of you get a minute. If you're not
interruptions? busy, it's ok to chat a bit if
your company allows it. This can
1. Non work calls to your cell build camaraderie and good
phone. working relationships. You can
always cut idle conversation
Unless you use your cell phone in short with the simple phrase, "I
your work, keep it turned off so need to get back to work!"
that personal calls go to
voicemail. Return urgent calls 3. People coming into your office
during a break in your work. or to your desk asking questions
Everything else can be returned while you're working or maybe
in your free time. even while you are eating lunch.
It's important to let your Example - "This will just take
friends and family know that you five minutes."
don't want to be bothered with
calls at work unless it's an Consider saying this, "I want to
emergency. Once you stop give you my undivided attention,
answering calls at all times of so let me finish this work item,
the day, they'll get the hint. or Big Mac, and then I'll stop by
to see you."
2. Co-workers stopping to "chat."
As with the "chat" interruption
above, this allows you to control only to those messages that are
the time you invest when you urgent. Deal with less important
actually do connect because messages when you're not in the
you'll be at their workspace. You middle of a project.
can walk away when you're done
and not get trapped in your own 5. Working on multiple projects.
office or cubicle.
4. Handling e-mails or instant Studies have shown that
messaging. multi-tasking is actually
counterproductive. Key in on one
Unless you need to regularly project at a time. You'll be more
check e-mail in order to manage effective at getting it done in
the tasks you're working on, I less time, and you'll do a better
suggest checking it no more than job on it. Your mental and
3 times a day. Once when you get creative energy will be focused
to work to see if there is and not distracted by what the
anything urgent for the start of other tasks may be demanding.
that day, once before going to Also, the sense of accomplishment
lunch and again at about 3:30 PM from completing one task will
to process replies before the end energize you for the next
of your workday. Also, consider project.
disabling the alarm that
announces arriving e-mail. We all deal with interruptions in
our workday, so it's up to us to
Keep your instant messaging manage them. Hopefully, these
turned off unless you use it in tips will help you remain more
your work. In that case, react focused and productive.
About the Author:
Dave Lindbeck, Career Strategist - Founder, InStep Coaching - Career resources for professionals on the move! - Learn more @ http://www.instepcoaching.com - Subscribe to his complimentary e-newsletter, @ http://www.instepcoaching.com/instep_journal.htm - P.O. Box 7221 Phoenix, Arizona 602-277-5170
Source: www.isnare.com
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