You're just in full flow and then someone else stops by and interrupts you. Now you're back to square one.
Know the feeling?
Almost everyone does, but for some people this is the pattern of their whole working life. Learning to manage the flow of visitors so that you can concentrate on your work can leave you a lot more productive.
Techniques include advertising a time when you're free to talk in a communal Outlook calendar and emphasising those when you are not free too.
Action step: Why not take 5 minutes to talk to your IT department about communicating your Outlook calendar now?
COMMENTS
Christina Klein
April 11, 2013I live in a dorm and I have to say, staving off friends who drop by whilst I'm trying to get work done is near impossible. I've created a system whereby when there's a pink post-it on my door, I'm not to be disturbed (unless of course there's a really rad fiesta happening somewhere)! I guess the same can be applied to a corporate environment!
Hi Christina.
I totally understand. I faced the same problem as you 10 years ago when I was an undergrad in college and I'm facing the same problem at work now! I suppose when it comes down to people dropping by your desk to ask questions or to discuss work, there's really nothing much that you can so about it, especilly if you are part of management.