Whether in the comfort zone of your office or directing an executive meeting, interruptions in the workplace are unavoidable and happening all around you. Interruptions do not merely take up precious time, but detract from the quality of your output. In order to engage—to stay focused—and deliver to the very best of your ability, you must have a methodology for handling unnecessary distractions. By implementing these 5 steps, you will be ready to deal with whatever comes your way and notice a significant improvement to your productivity.
¨ Set your schedule. By not having a determined order to the flow of your day, you have inadvertently welcomed the unknown. Do not invite interruptions. Always be moving forward with your plan.
¨ Make your work atmosphere conducive to the task at hand. Modify your space. Have a clean environment. The presence of clutter is an interruption in itself.
¨ Turn your phone on silent, with all calls, forwarded to voicemail. Allot a block of your schedule to responding to texts and returning calls. Do not all cellular interference to conflict with your priorities.
¨ When someone interrupts and wants 5 minutes of your time, be tactful; always friendly, but assertive in letting them know that now is not the best time. Suggest a more convenient time or even meeting them for lunch. Complete the work to which you were priory committed.
¨ Self control! For this, there is no substitute. Develop discipline. Set daily focus challenges. Practice tuning out everything that does not pertain to the task before you.
In life, it is critical to deal with the unexpected to the best of your abilities. While interruptions can come in all shapes and sizes, do not allow them to deter your commitment to excellence. These 5 essential steps will help interruptions fade to black as you experience your efficiency excel beyond. Stay focused!
Which one of these steps do you believe is critical to staying on cue with accomplishing the day’s objectives? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Until next time,
Yours truly,
Tommy Antonopoulos, Blogger for OfficeTime
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