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1. Stick to discussing the job.
You should as soon as possible set a time frame to which you are ready to be interrupted. "I'm having a meeting in about five minutes. Can you briefly tell me your problem for half a minute, or better, I'll call you after the meeting?"
2. End the call, interrupting yourself.
If latest news, weather, or other irrelevant topics bob up in the conversation, there can be a polite way to end the talk and not to offend a colleague, that is, killing yourself (instead) in the middle of a sentence. "Yes, I go to a party to celebrate the release of Joe retired. I have not bought a gift yet, so maybe you would suggest something during the lunch ... But, I'm sorry, I need to call multiple clients, so I better get busy. I bring you a report on the status of the project tomorrow. "
3. Indicate expectations.
If someone interrupts you with some task, set up a desirable time frame. Unfortunately, it's hard to get a straight answer to the question of when it should be done; so the answer is usually: "The sooner the better." And there is one simple rule: if the job takes less than two minutes, do it immediately. Actually realizing their own timelines, you will be able to prioritize smartly.
4. Schedule a time when you can or cannot be interrupted.
Of course, some projects require greater concentration than the other; so you may need to schedule a separate time devoted to yourself, and to make sure that you could not be interrupted this time. If possible, let the calls go to voicemail, do not check e-mail, put a sign on the table that today, you are not available from 10:00 until 11:00, or even head to work in a quiet place where you can keep the door closed.
based on the book "Decide. Work Smarter, Reduce Your Stress and Lead by Example" by Steve McClatchy
You should as soon as possible set a time frame to which you are ready to be interrupted. "I'm having a meeting in about five minutes. Can you briefly tell me your problem for half a minute, or better, I'll call you after the meeting?"
2. End the call, interrupting yourself.
If latest news, weather, or other irrelevant topics bob up in the conversation, there can be a polite way to end the talk and not to offend a colleague, that is, killing yourself (instead) in the middle of a sentence. "Yes, I go to a party to celebrate the release of Joe retired. I have not bought a gift yet, so maybe you would suggest something during the lunch ... But, I'm sorry, I need to call multiple clients, so I better get busy. I bring you a report on the status of the project tomorrow. "
3. Indicate expectations.
If someone interrupts you with some task, set up a desirable time frame. Unfortunately, it's hard to get a straight answer to the question of when it should be done; so the answer is usually: "The sooner the better." And there is one simple rule: if the job takes less than two minutes, do it immediately. Actually realizing their own timelines, you will be able to prioritize smartly.
4. Schedule a time when you can or cannot be interrupted.
Of course, some projects require greater concentration than the other; so you may need to schedule a separate time devoted to yourself, and to make sure that you could not be interrupted this time. If possible, let the calls go to voicemail, do not check e-mail, put a sign on the table that today, you are not available from 10:00 until 11:00, or even head to work in a quiet place where you can keep the door closed.
based on the book "Decide. Work Smarter, Reduce Your Stress and Lead by Example" by Steve McClatchy
