Are Your Employees Too Distracted To Be Productive?

In the age of technology that has come with cell phones, email, instant messaging and social media, it’s easy to see where distractions can become a common occurrence. Nobody wants to be distracted, especially while at work. However, recent research has shown that the common distractions we all face in the workplace may be diminishing productivity and efficiency more than we realize.

Set It and Forget It

Constant emails, questions from colleagues and phone calls can cause you to lose valuable work time. In fact, research from the University of California has shown that the average person may need as much as 30 minutes to refocus on their task after an interruption. Furthermore, research also showed that the average person only gets about 11 minutes of uninterrupted work before a phone call or email comes into play. The effect of frequent interruptions adds up quickly and can result in more than 10 1/2 hours of unproductive work time in a week.

In order to cut down on interruptions and lost work time. The best strategy is to schedule a specific time for these distractions. Set aside a couple of 30 minute blocks in your day specifically for returning phone calls and emails, and set “Got A Minute” time in your day for coworkers to “stop in” your office with questions or concerns. When you set these times, make sure you stick with them and enforce them. Outside of these schedule times, avoid checking your email, let your phone go to voicemail and keep your office door closed! This will greatly reduce lost time and boost both productivity and efficiency on valuable projects that require your attention.