The Key to Manage Interruptions Like a Pro! Plus 3 Specific Ideas, 12 Strategies & More

In this article I share the key for dealing with ALL interruptions, 3 helpful ideas for anyone to manage their interruptions better and 12 specific strategies to manage interruptions in the moment!

How Focused are You?

These days we're all struggling with MORE interruptions!

As coaches, many of us already work from home. But since COVID, both ourselves and our clients may find our partners or children being around more as remote work is now commonplace.

Could you do with more focused time to work on your business? Perhaps you have a client that keeps being interrupted at work or when working on their coaching goals?

Do Interruptions Get in the Way of Achieving Your Tasks and Goals?

How often do you get knocked out of a state of flow? You're super-focused, you're making fantastic progress  and suddenly, you're out. You're interrupted. You pick up the phone to answer a call, you're tempted to check your messages by a "ping" on your phone, your friend/partner is bored and wants to talk to you, your colleague has an "urgent" (for them) request. The list goes on.

Interruptions take us away from whatever we're working on. When we need a break this can be a good thing, but at their worst interruptions cost us valuable time, our sense of "flow" or a wonderful creative thought. Sometimes we forget something important—or might even lose a client or deal!

So, this article is for both you and your clients!

Inspired by and based on our popular Interruptions Blaster Workbook, I guarantee you will find something helpful in this article—even if it's just one new valuable focusing strategy!

Here are 3 Helpful Ideas to Deal with Interruptions

Idea 1) Get to know the source of your interruptions

Do you understand the source of your interruptions, your interruption habits? Because when you do, you can respond effectively in future, instead of simply reacting on auto-pilot.

Keep an interruptions log for a 1-2 weeks, and make note of:

• WHAT the Interruption is (name & briefly describe it)
• WHO IS the Interrupter? (remember it could be you!)
• DAY & TIME
• TIME SPENT on Interruption
• WHO BENEFITED from the Interruption? (this can be very interesting to see!)
• How IMPORTANT is the Interruption? (score out of 10)
• Was it an URGENT interruption?

As you write out each interruption you could also briefly ask yourself what could I do differently next time? And jot down any ideas that spring to mind.

Then at the end of a week or two, review your log looking for themes, common patterns and interrupters! Now you have the information you need to come up with a plan...

The average American worker has fifty interruptions a day, of which seventy percent have nothing to do with work. W. Edwards Deming

Idea 3) If you're working on something specific, try to prevent the interruption in the first place

How to Prevent the interruption (this is great for set periods of time where you really need to focus)

• Go somewhere you won't be, or are less likely to, interrupted.
• Close a door between you and the outside world if you can.
• Putting on headphones and listening to non-distracting music can put you in a super-focused zone, and also is an unconscious signal to others that you are working—creating a barrier to their interruption.
• Put your answer machine on and/or switch the phone ringer off.
• Close distractions like social networking sites, email programs and email 'pingers'.
• Turn your personal cellphone off.

Wrap-Up

Interruptions can be frustrating or they can be stimulating—giving you a welcome break.

To handle interruptions more effectively you need to stop reacting and instead take a deep breath, giving yourself a few short moments to evaluate how you are doing, and then make the best decision for you.