One of the most challenging situations people face when planning their day is how to stick to their schedule when they are constantly being interrupted. Just when your activities are organized, someone else's emergency seems to get in the way. A client has a crisis, co-workers are in a jam, your boss is breathing down your neck, a friend calls, or any of the dozens of other interruptions you face on any given day.
The solution is extremely simple and equally powerful ~ Schedule Time for Interruption. That's right, just as you would schedule a meeting with a customer or event with your boss, scheduling a specific time in your day for interruptions is a technique that our students nationwide continually tell us is one of the most powerful time management tips they have ever used.
How does this work? There are two components. First, as you are planning your day or week, allot a certain amount of time for the sole purpose of dealing with 'other people's emergencies.' What normally happens when someone calls or comes running into your office with something that they need your immediate help with? You drop whatever you are in the middle of and rush to their attention. Not only is their issue something that may not be of any importance to you, but I recently heard that it takes most people around 20 minutes to return to the level of focus they had before being interrupted. Wonder where those 'lost hours' go each day? Rebounding from all your interruptions!
But we do not want to tell our clients, managers, and co-workers that we aren't there for them. Now you can have the best of both. You have a specific time predetermined in your day that you are available for 'scheduled interruptions.' Instead to denying the requests of others, you can simply plan a time that you will be able to help them.
The second component is to stick to your schedule and communicate to others when you are available for them and when you are not. If this seems unrealistic or impractical, that is because you have never tried it! In the long run, your boss with be impressed that you are getting more done, you will have more quality time to prevent most of your clients' crises, and your coworkers will learn that you are not at their beck and call.
A frequent question people ask is, "how much interruption time do I need to schedule and when should I schedule it?" That, of course, is going to vary from person to person, but as a general rule, I say as much as you need and when it is convenient for you. If you are the manager of a large group of people, you are going to have more people knocking on your door for help with their challenges than if you are just getting started with a company. Try out the amount you think will be adequate and you will quickly realize if it's the right amount for your needs. Most people find that right before or after lunch makes sense, as that is an easy breaking time in the middle of the day.
Eric Plantenberg, President of Freedom Speakers and Trainers, currently trains professionals across the country in memory, goal setting, attitude, time management, and effective communications. His newest program, P.A.C.T., is an intensive one-on-one twelve week personal coaching program designed for those who are serious about their success. Please click here for more information on Eric http://www.deliverfreedom.com/speakers_eric.html or Freedom Speakers and Trainers http://www.deliverfreedom.com/speakers_eric.html Call 888-233-0407 x112 email http://www.deliverfreedom.com/speakers_eric.html
elite cleaning services Mundelein ..I've divided my tips into two sections - 5 ways... Read More
My husband and I recently returned from a trip to... Read More
How can you get an extra hour out of each... Read More
When is the best time to plan your day? Well,... Read More
Number Yourself: Count yourself as an important individual. You are... Read More
It is not enough if you are busy. The question... Read More
Most of us know how to manage our time. It... Read More
Sometime ago, my lovely wife woke me up in the... Read More
Do you wish you could work less and play more?... Read More
Would you like to know how to get 10 times... Read More
We all face decisions that involve doing things that affect... Read More
Such an innocuous little phrase, yet when you are hard... Read More
If you operate any kind of home business, you must... Read More
If you have ever missed an appointment, forgotten to pick... Read More
"It's just been one of those days?I can't seem to... Read More
Increased productivity, the ability to get more value for our... Read More
Recently I saw an advertisement for a time management booklet:... Read More
Do you have plenty to do, but don't have enough... Read More
Women's health issues often are focused on goals to reach:... Read More
Time - it is the one thing that we are... Read More
The Internet is increasingly becoming a major time killer for... Read More
Does choosing which time we do an activity really make... Read More
I'm sure we've all had the experience of having a... Read More
Zak is my three-year old godson. He is the apple... Read More
One question a lot of people ask me recently is:... Read More
Airbnb cleaning service Mundelein ..Want to improve your time management?Edward W. Smith, motivational speaker,... Read More
"Work smarter, not harder" is a clich? that has darted... Read More
This is one more article on "Organizing and Enjoying Your... Read More
There are the golden rules that apply to time. If... Read More
The most powerful resource that we have is time. Everything... Read More
My husband and I recently returned from a trip to... Read More
Many of the clients I work with in success coaching... Read More
We are all born equal! We all have the same... Read More
So What Then Is The Opposite Of Procrastination? Urgency is... Read More
Do you have plenty to do, but don't have enough... Read More
As the song goes, this is the time to relax,... Read More
"The bad news is time flies. The good news is... Read More
When I sit down with a client to work on... Read More
Here's a smart system for doubling or tripling your daily... Read More
All too often we can feel overwhelmed by the amount... Read More
Recently I saw an advertisement for a time management booklet:... Read More
If you can motivate yourself at will to get any... Read More
OK...let's assume that you're truly motivated to change. Great. But... Read More
The Internet is increasingly becoming a major time killer for... Read More
Do you wish you could work less and play more?... Read More
The ability to be able to set priorities and deal... Read More
Are you working a "day job" while building your home-based... Read More
Determine Your Procrastination PersonalityBrook Noel is the author of The... Read More
Friends, colleagues, and clients are all telling me that one... Read More
Choose to be HappyHappiness is a choice. You can choose... Read More
Time Management |