Stop The Time Thieves
May 9, 2008 – 5:55 am
Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “Guard you own spare moments. They are like uncut diamonds.” Are you frustrated by constant interruptions that steal your time when you are trying to get something done? Well there are a few of minor adjustments that you can make to help reduce the interruptions.
Start by making some physical adjustments to your office environment. Try arranging your office so that your desk doesn’t face the door. People are less likely to interrupt you if they cannot see your face. Next, don’t make your interrupters comfortable. Consider removing the extra chairs from your office – you can always borrow a chair from someone else’s office if you need one.
When an interrupter comes into your office, stand up and meet him at the door. Standing makes most people uncomfortable and tends to shorten the length of interruption.
If you can spare a few minute, control the length of the meeting. You can work “end cues” like “one more thing before you go” into the conversation to signal that you are ready to end the meeting.
If it isn’t convenient for you to meet, say so! Tell him you will stop by his office as soon as you can break free. Visiting the interrupter’s office lets you control the length of the meeting since it is a lot easier leave his office than it is to get him out of yours.
Remember, minutes have a way of melting into hours. Unfortunately, your work is still waiting after the interrupter is gone so try to keep the stolen moments to a minimum.