By Trapper Woods- "Father Time" www.trapperwoods.com
If you have interruptions you probably have a job and that's good. The last thing you would ever want to do is get rid of interruptions coming to you as part of your job. These are necessary interruptions.
The real problem with interruptions is when they are unnecessary. These are the true time robbers and they can and should be controlled. Separate necessary and unnecessary interruptions by asking yourself the filter question: "Is what's happening right now necessary for the existence, continuation, and well being of the organization?" If the answer is no, then say, "No" to the interruption and refocus on the task at hand. The ability to say no, in a non-threatening way in appropriate situations, is an instant time saver. It gets easier and easier with practice.
The impact of unnecessary interruptions is subtle but costly. Fifteen minutes a day is ninety-one hours per year. That is $2,270.00 for a person who has a wage/benefits package of $25.00 per hour. If one hundred employees lost fifteen minutes a day at that rate, it would mean $228,125.00 down the drain on an annual basis. It happens!
But the cost is not purely financial. Interruptions splinter our time into smaller, more restricting pieces. They destroy concentration. They are frustrating and raise our stress level. Worst of all, they lower productivity. Despite these negatives , many people tolerate rather than eliminate unnecessary interruptions.
Why? Here are two reasons. Some people welcome interruptions as a procrastinating tool to avoid the task at hand. Others have no interruption control strategy. It's easy to plan a strategy for interruption control. It involves four techniques before interruptions occur and four techniques after they occur.
BEFORE:
- Pre-empt by approaching to likely interrupters first before they come to you.
- Screen by setting up physical screens as well as using call forwarding.
- Schedule interruptions by communicating your availability.
- Relocate, plan your crucial focus time away from interruptions.
AFTER:
- Refuse to engage in unnecessary interruptions period. Say NO!
- Reschedule rather than deal with them when they pop up.
- Refer the intruder to someone else. Don't become the sole "go to" person for everything.
- Respond immediately only to the ones that are truly in a crisis mode.
Once you set a strategy and stick with it, people will get the idea and begin to honor your style. No strategy, no relief.
|
