Interruptions From Others
Are you answering
the same questions from several people? Do you get interrupted to put out
fires? Are you making decisions that others could and should make? Do others stop by to socialize for long
periods of time?
Eliminate,
Delegate or Consolidate Interruptions
·
Develop
written procedures and answers to frequently asked questions.
·
Address the cause of fires rather than the symptom.
·
Keep
a list for each team member for non-urgent items.
·
Meet weekly or daily with team members to review list
items & update on goals.
·
Establish a calm space to work on projects. Close your office door.
·
Send your phone to voice mail for an hour or two.
Advise others ahead of time.
·
Set
your priorities for the day first - before looking at e-mail.
·
Turn
off the new e-mail indicator. Schedule specific times to handle it.
Remember,
it's not just your time you'll save; it's the other person's time too. By
implementing these ideas, most people can free up at
least ½ hour a day, which
translates to a whole month! What could you and your
team do with that extra time?
