Have you ever been in the middle of an important task when the phone rings? You think to yourself “this won’t take long”. Then, before you know it, you’ve followed the trail of the interruption, your day is gone, and you haven’t accomplished what you set out to do. Are interruptions robbing precious time from your workday?
In working with my clients, I’ve discovered that the majority of interruptions are self-imposed. Unnecessary interruptions put others in control of your time and are one of the most common ways we get side-tracked and lose focus. The good news is they can be managed, but you must first be aware of when and why they happen.
I have my clients keep a daily log to track their activities during the day. I ask them to do this for at least a week. Soon, they discover which interruptions are self-imposed and which are caused by circumstances beyond their control. It’s at that point when it becomes a conscious choice as to whether to allow the interruption or not.
