How many times have you had your work flow disrupted by an unwanted intrusion just when you were getting into your zone? Maybe it’s time for a “do not disturb” sign.
Buy (or make) two miniature flags, one green and the other red. Whenever you’re getting on with an important task and don’t want to be interrupted, stand the red flag on your desk to warn approaching team members that you’re unavailable except for emergencies. When you’re free to chat, use the green flag instead. This system is particularly useful in open plan offices where everyone’s flags are in plain view.
What do you do to avoid interruptions?