Getting interrupted at work can be incredibly frustrating, annoying, and stressful — but does it have to be? Workplace interruptions are often necessary, providing us with the information and real-time collaboration we need to do our jobs. And as Slack, Zoom, and countless other communication tools make it ever easier to get in touch, these interruptions are only becoming more frequent (and unavoidable).
How to Interrupt Someone’s Workday — Without Annoying Them
Six research-backed strategies.
February 17, 2022
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Summary.
Interruptions are a fact of life — but do they have to be unpleasant? A recent study found that 31% of workplace interruptions are actually experienced positively, and offers six strategies to help anyone become a better (that is, less annoying) interrupter: Assess how critical the task is, don’t pile on, identify the best person to interrupt, pay attention to busyness cues, decrease the time burden on the person, and if possible, give advance warning. Especially as many organizations shift to long-term hybrid models, it’s more important than ever to think proactively about how we communicate with one another at work. In this complex new landscape, it’s up to all of us to pay close attention to evolving norms about what it means to be a “good” interrupter.