Ours is a small office. Normally there are five people around, coming from and going to meetings, talking on the phone, getting the work done. It's calm and quiet; sometimes, I think, too quiet.
Well, we just finished a 12-week program for 15 individuals. Everyday these 15 were in our training room, and in the kitchen, and in the washroom, and in our offices using the printer or needing help; they took over the building! It was a vibrant and "happening" workplace, busy and noisy with lots of laughter and discussions.
The program is done now, and the office has returned to its calm and quiet self. We miss the vibrancy--sometimes--but there's a lot to be said for peace and quiet to get things done. Think back to school when the teacher imposed a quiet time and you could read or think or do homework. It was kind of nice to have that calm time in the middle of a hectic day!
I just read an article about companies combating the interruption epidemic by implementing "quiet time," when workers are expected to work uninterrupted by anything that diverts time and attention from the task at hand, including technology, co-workers, and bosses. Why are they doing this? Harvard Business School did a study on a high-tech software company where it was routine for engineers to work evenings and weekends to get projects done. They had to do this because they were constantly interrupted throughout their days. So, every morning for four hours, there was "quiet time" when the engineers worked alone on their projects. They were able to accomplish much more, without working the overtime. "Quiet time" works!
Think about your own work day:
- Is your attention pulled in 12 different directions?
- Do you check email constantly?
- Are you deluged with endless phone calls?
- Do co-workers wander into your office for work- and non-work-related conversations?
- Are you sending and receiving texts from your kids or partner or friends?
- Is the boss frequently calling to ask for things or to check something out?
- Are you tuned in to radio stations or webinars on the internet?
How do you get anything done? Personally, if I'm doing something creative or thought-intensive, interruptions are irritating and have a definite negative impact on my work. It's hard to get my brain back on track after the interruption.
I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts on this topic. Would "quiet time" help you be more efficient and effective in your job, and keep your sanity? If implementing a "quiet time" in your department is out of the question, how do you combat the interruption epidemic?
