A key trait of successful people is the ability to focus. ~ Ellie Parvin
You have a work project that is due for presentation, you are not yet done and you are trying to finish within the deadline. You need to focus your attention and get it done. However, annoyingly, your phone won’t stop ringing, your coworkers won’t stop instant messaging you or walking through the door with millions of inquiries.
What you seriously need at this moment is zero interruptions and some peace and quiet to focus your thoughts and energy. This can be difficult to achieve when you are at work. A place where you usually answer all inquiriesand calls but, the presentation or project is just as valuable if not more so to you and the company as whole.
Well, it may be impossible to completely eliminate distractions, but there are several tips you can minimize them and “Put a Force Field Around your Focus.”
Put Up a Notice
You would tell each and every person that walks through your door how busy you are. You could answer all your calls and let the callers know you will talk to them later. However in essence, the amount of time you use telling each person becomes too much wasted time. It is therefore easier to write a notice for instance ‘do not disturb’ or ‘engaged’ against your door so that anytime anyone is about to knock they can read it. You could go ahead and make it easier for your visitors by letting them know when you will be available so that they can give you the peace you require.
Be Open about your Commitment
Most people want to be left alone for ease in doing their work but they won’t say it. Say it openly because if you cringe, your coworkers or clients may think you are just in a bad mood. Therefore, in as much as you have the door sign or an answering machine, if people persist with their interruptions, gather the courage to let them know that you will attend to them at a later time.
Be hesitant in the way you answer your calls and emails
The commonest interruptions in the work place come from phones and computers. There is always a call that needs to be answered or an email that needs a reply. Immediately you decide to attend to them, you could be looking at a change of schedule. Therefore, when the phone rings, let it go first to the voicemail. Urgent callers may have to call back a number of times. If you have no prospects for emergencies, you could even do yourself some good by switching off your phone.
Avoid multitasking at all costs
Most people brag about their multitasking rights but what’s true is, so long as you are doing different things parallel, you are bound to confuse yourself. For instance, working on an email window and looking at Facebook at the same time will not give you the peace you require to handle your tasks in good time. First things first, set your priorities right and finish the most important things early. Facebook will be there for you when you are done.
Remember, a key trait of successful people is the ability focus! To achieve great things you must Put a Force Field Around your Focus.
Once you start implementing some of these techniques above you will eventually train those around you to respect your time to!o. In fact, some will even learn by your example how to create a Force Field around their focus
