Using strong time management strategies helps you prioritize, organize, and plan ahead. But once he has a plan, he also needs strong skills to handle those inevitable interruptions that challenge his focus and productivity.

Honing these skills will keep you on track. Neglecting them means you will lose your focus and your effectiveness and productivity will suffer.

Is this a familiar scenario? You have a deadline and every tick of the clock brings it closer, while you work hard to meet it. You’re coming up with creative ideas and checking off items on your to-do list. Suddenly, someone appears in her office.

How do you feel when this distraction suddenly demands your attention?

The thing is, you have to decide how to respond on the fly. This requires skills that are totally different from the skills you need to plan and prioritize ahead of time. And your answer is very important, in 2 ways:

· Tea what of your answer determines what happens, concretely and immediately, in the time that follows. Do you pause and spend time with the person? Do you stay on the road and ask him to come back later?

· Y What you respond can make you feel empowered or drained. Do you invite the person in but feel victimized by your choice? Does your answer make you feel more or less in charge of yourself and your time? This significantly affects your energy as you go.

So BEFORE interruptions is the best time to plan for them. These 3 timely tips help you stay effective in a world where focus time is at a premium and interruptions are the norm.

How to manage interruptions

You can accomplish more and enjoy a boost in morale when you expect interruptions and have planned for them in advance. (And the distractions don’t have to be people, they can be ideas, interesting websites, you name it!)

The secret is to create proactive patterns. You will redirect distractions to scheduled appointments. By doing that, you give them their due while protecting your focus and priorities.

3 tips to stay focused, effective and flexible

1. Discover ways you really invite interruptions from other people.

Document (with friendly energy) the ways you reward people for interrupting you. For example, does it hold the door open? Look up and smile? There can be many ways to subtly invite unscheduled visitors.

Remember: this is not an exercise in self-criticism; be sure to thank and validate yourself for each idea! This is a very practical and powerful way to start making more conscious decisions and reclaim your time. All of this is completely within his range of control!

2. Redirect interruptions to the time you have reserved.

What time of day are you most productive? Reserve that time, whenever possible, for activities that you have prioritized in advance.

Then choose a different part of the day to respond to requests and other things that come up during the day. (Remember, this can be for outside interruptions or for the good ideas and interesting news that might catch your eye.) Figure out how much time you generally need to attend to these issues, and then reserve that block of time, too, in your schedule. And if you’re having a hard time keeping boundaries right now, scheduling it as the last thing before lunch or before you get off work gives you a clear end point.

Keep your appointment book open and close. As interruptions arise, schedule them for the time you have set aside. Be specific and be sure to follow up, whether your article involves someone else or just you. This builds confidence that the problem will be addressed and you can get back to work faster.

If some of your interruptions come by phone or email, you can set up automatic replies to indicate that you will contact people at a specific time of day.

3. Proactively reduce interruptions by anticipating needs.

Are there external interruptions that you can anticipate? Sixteen the initiative. Contact the person when it is convenient for you and set up a time to talk. Developing this habit strengthens your ability to coordinate a flow of constructive energy for yourself. What could have been an interruption is now one of your priorities!

As you explore your responses to interruptions, strive to see this as a time of investigation and experimentation. Look for new options to develop and be sure to encourage yourself by welcoming all the valuable lessons.

Taking initiative when faced with unexpected interruptions is very empowering! When you realize that your daily destiny is in your hands, it has an immediate and positive impact on your choices, your focus, and your productivity.