And for me, the end of the day is actually considered an interruption! Whenever possible, I like to finish the current task. If I decide to start and pick up where I left off the next morning, I find myself (again) trying to remember what I was doing. I’ve been suggested by others to write down where I left off, but it simply isn’t the same!
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Very nice! I wish my phone had an external button so I could do that. In fact, I used to work in an office where the guys and I had an agreement – when Talking Guy came by and overstayed his welcome, one of us would call the “victim” on his/her cell phone so Talking Guy would move on.
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My own way of getting people off my back is to casually play my phone’s ring tome without them noticing. The phone seems to ring, I answer it, act surprised and then
excuse myself to go complete the conversation in a private place.

Unfortunately some buggers don’t get the message and would even escort you to the loo to take a piss so they can continue rambling. Aaargh!
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Klaus, sounds like you’ve found something that works. You let your coworkers know when you REALLY need to be left alone, and they are respecting that.

I found that wearing headphones (and listening to music of course) would also decrease interruptions, but then people found out that I wore them all the time and started interrupting me anyway. So now I only put them on if really necessary and people seem to respect it more often.

And also the thing about waiting a few seconds to reply or even look up might also give the other guy an indication that he actually disturbed you and he might think twice before doing it again
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This post was mentioned on Twitter by introvertzone: How to kill interruptions and prevent new ones from hatching http://bit.ly/23Vev2...

I have never understood why my need to concentrate and focus on my work has to be less important than some bored extrovert’s desire to talk to me. I’ve always thought I had to be receptive to all interruptions, as a “nice person,” but I’m finally realizing that the interrupters aren’t being “nice people” when they refuse to respect what I’m trying to do, so I’m becoming a lot more assertive about saying, basically, “Please go away.”

I just rearranged my cubicle with a higher wall and I’ve positioned my main monitor so that my back is to the ‘door’ – it’s much less open and inviting than it was and I think it’s going to cut down on the unwanted “cubicle visits” considerably.

Not showing impatience is important for several reasons, one of which, in my environment, is that if you show you’re irritated or impatient, people will simply escalate their efforts to “get your goat.” It’s childish and ridiculous but that’s what happens. They seem to think it’s cute and funny when I get ticked off at the constant socializing. Nobody takes me seriously when I try to tell them that really, I have work to do and they need to take their conversation somewhere else. Management is no help, I learned that a long time ago. It’s MY problem to solve.

Even if I’m really busy, I will usually accommodate a WORK related interruption, especially if it’s presented with just a little respect and consideration, ie. “Excuse me, I know you’re busy, but I really need your help for just a minute.” Fine. I understand that. Likewise, I expect to be understood if now and then my response has to be “I’m really sorry but I can’t help you right now. I’ll be free in about a half hour, or if you really need this now, perhaps you could ask Greg.” It’s got to go both ways. I’ve reached a point where I no longer feel the need to be “nice” to the rude. If people want my help at work they have GOT to start showing me a little more respect, or they are going to find that I’ve mysteriously “forgotten” just about everything I know, and have become useless as a source of assistance!!
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