Break Time!

You are finally making some progress with a complicated task when suddenly:

• Bob leans right over your divider asking you to go to a website now to catch the latest sports news

• Alyssa, who just started, always has a new random question since you told her “Let me know if you have any questions!”

• Jason runs by and feels inclined to tell you, “Too much coffee! Gotta pee!”

Since when do I need to know that? Can’t they see I am busy right now? Inside you want to scream, “Do you mind???” Instead, you either keep your eyes transfixed on your computer screen, look up and politely nod,  or you stare back with any random expression.  It’s the typical freeze, flight or fight response. Why don’t we speak our minds?

Note that all of the perpetrators are friendly but this does not mean they are mind readers. Let’s put ourselves in their shoes:

Look at these images and decide:

If these are all your colleagues, who seems most approachable for idle chat, random question or heads up?

A(left photo) vs. B (right photo)?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Note:

• All of the images show people engaged with a book or computer.
• Some are facing you and some are looking at their work.
• Only one of the images shows a person outside of an office setting.

People who look at you seem to welcome your interruption yet that does not mean they are not pressed for time.  You may assume reasonable and  good excuses for approaching the others, such as:

She’s smiling (She must have be up for a chat or not working on anything serious)

“He’s stressed (Maybe he could use a break)”

I’ll just be a second (I need to know now!)

I’m curious (When I see that person, all my questions related to what they do rush me)

I want him to know that I appreciate him. I do not want to be cold to anyone.

Its my habit to say “I’ll be right back” or “I’m going to the bathroom”

She is my best friend/office buddy. We always enjoy catching up!

These are irrational thoughts when you consider how the goal is to get work done at work, especially at your workstation.  Just imagine that for every second the person is distracted to acknowledge you, it takes them twice as long to get their work done.  According to John Medina’s book, Brain Rules,

Studies show that a person who is interrupted takes 50 percent longer to accomplish a task. Not only that, he or she makes up to 50 percent more errors.

Even if you say that you have known him or her forever, that does not mean you have not been a nuisance to him or her for just as long!

• After good mornings are said, do your best to refrain from unnecessary social formalities when you pass by a colleague’s desk.  If you should make eye contact,  a smile will do.

• If you are the distracted, nod and stay focused on your work. If you are being engaged to do something different, offer another occasion and get back to work.

• If you do need a break, take it away from your desk and avoid treating another desk as a pit stop. Your free time aint their free time!