Do you have good systems and planning in place, but still find that interruptions monopolize your time? Do your customers all feel that they must personally speak with you? Read on to find out how to clear time to focus on the important things and eliminate the interruptions.

You have systems handled, but now you need to add a system to manage interruptions. Look at the interruptions and work out where they are coming from. Is it staff questions, or telephone calls or family wanting something or, heaven forbid, clients? Now ask yourself who gave them permission to interrupt you? Chances are there’s only one answer to that. You did.

Begin to change the situation by setting some guidelines.

Schedule some “do not disturb” time – usually not more than 50 minutes at a time, at the end of which you deal with messages. Ask your staff to put their query on paper or in an email, or even hold it till the next staff meeting. At the same time, tell them, if it is Drop Dead Urgent, you will drop everything and respond. Have them ask themselves the question: Is this DDU? If not, use another method to communicate. You may be able to set up a gatekeeper with clear guidelines to screen interruptions. These are just a few strategies. Once you examine the interruptions and see how they fill your available time, you will also see the patterns emerging, and think of ways to shift your behaviour and the behaviour of those around you.

Another issue are the customers who call are always wanting to speak with you. You need an approach that will not offend them.

First of all, make someone else the first point of contact–the gatekeeper–and have them ask what the call is in relation to, and if you are not available, can someone else help? When you take a call and hear the request, even if it’s from your best mate, say, “You know, I’d like to have Bill look after this for you. He’s our expert on leasing. Let me put you through to him.” Mate happy. Bill happy. It’s not brain surgery.

Your bigger issue is to decide whether you are a sales person first or a business owner first. If it’s the latter, you may have to let go of a bit of ego. However, if it’s the former and you want the business to continue to depend on you then you should be prepared to sacrifice growth. If you want growth, sacrifice some ego and acknowledge that you have good people who can handle the enquiries and transactions without you. They and your clients will respect you for it.

Try some or all of these strategies for a month and measure the changes.

Until next time…

P.S. Learn more about working ON your business with my FREE eBook! Get it HERE!