Know/Create your Effective Zone

Couple of days back I was working late as I went to office late. It was after 7 PM and for one hour I was able to work very effectively knowing fully well that there will not be any interruptions. No phone calls, no drop by conversations, no e-mails needing attention. It was one hour of concentrated period to work.

What is the maximum amount of time you can get for 'yourself' on any given day? This Effective Zone is the time you can use to do 'lot of things'. We are all faced with the challenge of managing interruptions. As we get more responsibilities, the interruptions also increase.

Understand what is your effective zone and use that to do things you 'want to do' instead of doing things you are 'forced to do'.

Some people come early to work, half an hour before everyone arrives and this gives a chance to do lot of things.
Some people have habit of staying back to avoid interruptions and do things.

Either of these strategies need 'a task list'. If you don't have one, even if you come early or stay late, you will still not do things you need to do. If you already follow one such strategy, you are fine, otherwise create your own effective zone.

Other ways to manage interruptions:

- Stay away from interruptions. If you are interrupted when you stay at your desk, go off to a room where you cannot be interrupted
- Use "Closed door" policy. If you keep your office door open, there are chances that some one will walk in assuming you are available. Closed the door to tell others that you are busy.
- Tell your team members that you are not to be disturbed for a specific time every day.
- Close e-mail application when you don't to be interrupted
- Let phone calls go to Voice Mail and don't attend unless you think it is an emergency.
- When interrupted during your effective zone, tell them that you will get back.

Recently I read a book titled "Attention Economy". This book was conveying the fact that there are so many interruptions and items demanding our attention that being focused is what drives the new economy. Individuals as well as business organizations are likely to loose focus and putting attention on right items is important.

Stay focused on goals and tasks. That is secret of success and happiness.

Related links:

Attention Economy book