Do Something - Take Action on Interruptions

This is my inaugural "Do Something!" post, which will be a short weekly post designed to help you take action right away and reap immediate rewards.

A couple of weeks ago, I did a presentation at my local bar association entitled, "Managing Time and Clutter in Your Law Practice." One of the tips that prompted the most discussion and feedback was about managing interruptions.

On average, it takes approximately 10 minutes to get back on track after each interruption. The vast majority of interruptions (up to 80%) are typically of 'little' or 'no' value. If you're interrupted 20 times a day (which isn't tough if you're constantly checking email), you lose over two productive hours a day.

Those are staggering statistics, and they point out just how crucial it is for you to manage those interruptions. So here's your 'Do Something!' action step -

Start managing your interruptions today:

1) Create blocks of time in which you are not interrupted for anything, (unless the building is burning down or someone needs to go to the hospital). That means absolutely NO: emails, telephone calls, visits from colleagues, 'quick questions,' coffee breaks, knocks on your door - nothing.

Do whatever you have to do - let voice mail pick up the phone, pretend you're out of the office, tell your staff you're on an important call or in an important meeting, turn off your audible email alarm or close your email program, and turn off the ringer on the phone;

2) Set 'office hours' to get staff, colleagues (and perhaps even clients) to bring you all of their questions at once during your designated office hours, rather than bit by bit throughout the day. This decreases the number of interruptions throughout the day and lets you accomplish more in less time;

3) Schedule your most important tasks during your uninterrupted time to ensure that the "important but not urgent" doesn't get edged out by the "urgent but not important." Keep those appointments sacred - just as you would an appointment with a big client.