The Results Are In: “Constant Interruptions” the Biggest Waste of Time
May 12, 2016
In April, we asked our readers to share with us about the
biggest waste of their time on a daily basis
. And with 21% of the votes, "Constant interruptions by employees/co-workers" was the top choice, followed closely behind by "Reading/replying to email" at 17%, and "Unnecessary meetings" at 15%.
The rest of the results are as follows:
- General disorganization (9%)
- Social media/internet browsing (9%)
- Idle chit chat with co-workers (8%)
- Micromanaging employees (5%)
- Last-minute projects (5%)
- Phone calls/texting (3%)
- Dealing with personal tasks/errands (1%)
- Smoke/snack breaks (1%)
Just over 4% of respondent to the poll selected the "Other" option and submitted their own answers, including:
- Poor communication
- Bouncing between projects
- Computer issues
- Legal red tape
- Fixing mistakes
Stop the interruptions before they stop you
In any workplace, interruptions are always
going to be a way of life
. However, there are steps you can take to reclaim your time and get some work done.
Set boundaries - Close your door and make your intentions known-you are in work mode now and
can't be interrupted
. If you set clear boundaries and give enough notice to your employees and co-workers that you will be out of hand for a few hours, they may be more apt to give you some space.
Unplug - Of course, if you need to take building your fortress of solitude a step further, try completely unplugging. Close your email, turn off your phone-even your personal mobile phone-basically, make it nearly impossible to reach you.
Get off the grid - Finally, if you need complete confidence that you can't be found, it may be necessary to leave the office altogether. Whether that means going to a local coffee shop, heading home, or to some undisclosed location nobody knows about but you, find a spot where you are assured total isolation.
What are some ways you waste time at work? What steps have you taken to address them? Let us know!
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