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
expert residential cleaners Park Ridge ..How often have you tried to manage your time in... Read More
"Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces up, snow... Read More
There are times, when I am driving in my car... Read More
One of the most challenging aspect in life is time... Read More
"I never seem to have any time for myself. What... Read More
Years ago when I started in this business, it seemed... Read More
As each day passes, and more and more things need... Read More
Do you manage your time or does your time manage... Read More
Recently I saw an advertisement for a time management booklet:... Read More
Clarity brings accomplishmentOne of the most important things you can... Read More
Isn't it amazing that some people can produce huge results... Read More
As the song goes, this is the time to relax,... Read More
Time and money are both very important in business. Yet,... Read More
"How do you DO it?!" If I had a dime... Read More
As I sit here in front of the computer... Read More
All too often we can feel overwhelmed by the amount... Read More
As a home-based, self-employed woman, mundane tasks can be as... Read More
How much time do you spend on Mastering Your Time?... Read More
Recently I've experienced a barrage of time wasters. Everything you... Read More
How many times have you remarked to someone that there... Read More
What would you say to me if I told you... Read More
Many folks tell me that they just don't have time... Read More
Almost everyone in business knows the balancing act between the... Read More
Such an innocuous little phrase, yet when you are hard... Read More
Choose to be HappyHappiness is a choice. You can choose... Read More
green cleaning service Park Ridge ..Most of us have a to-do list ? some of... Read More
How you spend the first sixty minutes of your day... Read More
The biggest time management mistake you can ever make is... Read More
How can you get an extra hour out of each... Read More
One question a lot of people ask me recently is:... Read More
I would like to touch upon a subject that it... Read More
Friends, colleagues, and clients are all telling me that one... Read More
I've divided my tips into two sections - 5 ways... Read More
As a small business owner, does the following paragraph sound... Read More
Zak is my three-year old godson. He is the apple... Read More
One of the most challenging aspect in life is time... Read More
How many of us are guilty of "Putting the cart... Read More
Time management consultant Stephen Young claims that the average time... Read More
Time is inelastic. Despite what some of us persist in... Read More
Fitting an education into a busy lifestyleMany people have aspirations... Read More
Time is wealth;Time is health; Time is power; Time is... Read More
?busy, busy, busy, busy, busy?busy, busy, bus? OK, slap me... Read More
When you decide to become self-employed, you automatically become the... Read More
A year and a half ago I was introduced to... Read More
Reflect on the rewards of kicking the procrastination habit. They... Read More
It is common knowledge that creating and living according to... Read More
"You will never find time for anything. You must make... Read More
What are the most important things you should accomplish today?... Read More
PROCRASTINATION: You've known about it since high school or college,... Read More
The ability to be able to set priorities and deal... Read More
Time Management |