Let’s face it: There is no shortage of ways for employees to distract themselves – or get distracted by others – while at work.
And while there is no way to completely eliminate all of those daily distractions, there are plenty of things employees can do to minimize the overall effect on productivity.
Keys to success
Here’s some advice to pass along to your finance staffers:
1. Turn off alerts. It’s impossible to get into any type of work rhythm when every 15 seconds you’re getting an alert about a new email or seeing an instant message pop up on your screen.
So, to give yourself a fighting chance, turn off all of your alerts or set your IM status to busy so co-workers know not to bother you.
Note: You may want to do the same for your smartphone if it’s constantly going off.
2. Find a quiet spot. Some tasks (e.g., going over a monthly budget presentation) may require extra focus. And your regular work station may not be ideal for that type of task.
If this is the case, try to find an empty conference room where you can completely immerse yourself in the project at hand.
3. Tune annoyances out. Whether it’s a co-worker’s noxious laugh or the din of constant chatter, some distractions can just grate on your nerves.
In some situations, it pays to confront the disruptive party. But many times, it’s not worth the aggravation. If you can’t get away, try tuning out. Put on headphones and work with background sounds you actually enjoy.
