Digithoughts

It takes an average of 15 minutes to start working at maximum productivity. Interruptions--from coworkers, phone calls and breaks--all reset the productivity clock. Recently, Digitaria’s Chief Technology Officer Chuck Phillips emphasized the significance of interruptions, helped raise awareness of limiting our own interruptions and shared tips on maintaining productivity despite them.

Interruptions are a necessary evil. We’ve all done it and we do so in our own style in an effort to get our own work done. Interrupting styles include:

The Fawn: The fawn does not wish to interrupt you, but feels as though it must. The fawn will timidly make laps around your desk until you make eye contact, which the fawn interprets as an invitation to interrupt.
The Lion: The lion is all about the surprise attack. If you appear to lose focus at any point, the lion will strike, e.g. if you stop typing to stretch your arms -- BAM!
The Rhino: Nothing is of greater importance than the rhino’s interruption. The rhino charges. The rhino is made up of pure and supreme self-confidence which gives it the ability to remain unaware of the fact that the rhino is even interrupting anyone at all.

Minimizing interruptions will allow employees to reach that peak point of productivity when they’re “in the zone.” With the teamwork environment fostered in our agency space, eliminating all interruptions is close to impossible. But being mindful of one’s interruptions is a great place to start. First seek alternatives to interruptions:
    •    Be inventive and proactive and think of self-sufficient resources
    •    Use passive means of communication, like email instead of stopping by
    •    Schedule meetings around other interruptions: Consolidation at its finest!

Chuck stressed personal productivity and gave three ways to evolve into a “more productive you:”
    •    Mitigate interruptions: Consider headphones, a sign on the back of your desk, changing desks with a co-worker so you can’t be stalked and even scheduling short meetings to limit interruptions.
    •    Become more efficient: Segregate projects and optimize task switching.
    •    Get organized to get things done: Use the tools and tricks at your disposal to help tackle tasks. Enable some gmail tricks of the trade such as: keyboard shortcuts (yes, YOU CAN go “mouseless”), labels and the “undo send” feature.

With these tips considered and applied, I envision clear-minded Digitarians who are even more productive. Whether it’s blasting ACDC, the in-your-face “Do Not Disturb” sign or even a relocation, we now know to do what it takes to avoid interrupting wildlife and meet that deadline.

Michelle Andrews Office Coordinator

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