Do you hate distractions at work?
By Natalie Gahrmann
No worries, you are not alone! An informal survey of 500 corporate managers conducted by Natalie Gahrmann of N-R-G Coaching Associates revealed the top distractions in the US workplace. It’s probably no surprise to you that technology, instead of increasing productivity, has become one of the biggest impediments to productivity—and a common reason people hate their jobs.
Communication technologies were supposed to make working lives run more smoothly, but instead distractions consume 28 percent of the average work day—roughly $650 billion worth of time each year. Overall job satisfaction is reduced because of the distractions and interruptions, which cause frustration, anger and stress.
Here are the top offenders and some solutions you can incorporate into your own life:
1. Email was identified as the number one offender. Most people complain of overflowing in-boxes, recipients expecting an instant response, and emails including unnecessary recipients. Putting some systems in place to help you manage your e-mail overload will make a recognizable difference. Here are a couple of quick tips:
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Check email only at set times each day.
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Train subordinates to include you only on emails that pertain to you.
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Answer briefly, keeping the important information up front.
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Organize your follow-up list and respond based on priority.
2. Text messages, instant messaging, online chats and bulletin boards are often over-used. Some programs use pop-up boxes—an immediate distraction every time a message arrives. The best way to manage these tools is to prevent overuse in the first place. Clearly establish availability and expectations about instant access. Make sure everyone on the team has a clear idea of when and how these “instant” messages should be handled.
3. The Internet is a frequent offender both at home and at work, easily sucking up hours of time. First, be aware that you may be dismissed from your employer if you are found in violation of company policy for surfing the web while you are supposed to be working. Technology is often used to track offenders. So cutting out non-essential internet browsing can be a great first step for cutting down on surfing time.
4. Telephone calls are another big distraction in our lives. Instead of focusing on the task at hand, most people feel the need to pick up a ringing phone. Establish focused times when you won’t allow phone distractions, and put this into practice by turning off the ringer, if necessary. As long as your caller has an opportunity to leave a voice message, you can call back at a more convenient time.
5. Technology Issues. Problems with poorly functioning equipment cause stress in addition to wasting time. If you’ve ever had your computer freeze up or lose power before you have the chance to save files, you know about this frustration. Printers out of toner, server issues and hard drive crashes are not always preventable, but some planning could prevent any time or data loss. Have toner, paper, and other supplies that you frequently run out of on hand, do regular maintenance to keep equipment running at peak performance and regularly back up files, so you’re prepared when issues do come up.
Distractions and interruptions are all around you, but recognizing what causes you to lose focus and directly addressing the causes will help you become more productive.