Appease Question Vultures and Stay Focused

Picture two dozen unread documents at your desk, at least 25 time-contingent emails within your inbox, with a do-or-die meeting in three hours. Then somebody knocks on your door with a “quick question.” Did your concentration just get obliterated? Yes, it did.


Your time and focus is valuable, but co-workers need attention too. More importantly, they need answers to individual questions. While responding might help prevent a mistake, getting back on track isn’t easy.


Balancing leadership with personal tasks can be challenging, but is possible. Watch this quick video and learn a simple trick to stay focused, keep your workers happy, and increase productivity.




Action Steps:



Stay focused by emphasizing an office culture of “when” rather than “now.”
Organize regular 1:1 meetings where workers can ask questions and offer comments.
Use the comment section to tell us about your strategies for answering questions and scheduling co-worker meetings.



Principles:



Answering small questions can sap your time and concentration.
Create a routine that maximizes your ability to stay focused and productive.
Scheduling 1:1 attention is a very effective means to control day-to-day interruptions. 






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The post Appease Question Vultures and Stay Focused appeared first on Dave Crenshaw | Helping Entrepreneurs Triumph Over Chaos.

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Published on September 11, 2013 09:01
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Dave Crenshaw's Blog

Dave Crenshaw
Dave Crenshaw has appeared in TIME magazine, Forbes, SIRIUS XM Radio, and the BBC News. His first book, The Myth of Multitasking: How ‘Doing It All’ Gets Nothing Done, has been published in six langua ...more
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