Co-workers and other folks are going to stop by your office — it’s all part of doing business — but you can keep their visits short (and perhaps discourage future visits) by following Productivity501’s five tips. Two of my favorites:
- Meet them at the door – If you know someone is coming in to distract you, meet them at the door and suggest that they “walk with you” while you talk. You can head on an errand or to the restroom. If you are subtle, you might even be able to walk them back to their desk and then head back to your own office.
- Take notes — When someone comes in, you will likely keep them much more focused if you pull out a pen and paper and take notes on what they are saying. They are unlikely to gossip or chit chat, if they see you are writing everything down.
The author also suggests keeping books or other materials on your spare chair so visitors don’t have a place to sit. Personally, I’m a fan of the “I have to be on a conference call in five minutes” line, which preps the person to keep it short. What’s your favorite way to keep distracting visitors to a minimum? Share it in the Comments! Photo by Rob.
