Stopping the visitors that come to my desk

[bing42]

I'm in the process of cutting the cord at work.

It's now more important than ever to perfect the art of interrupting interruption. My problem is dealing with the people come to my desk all day long. I have already effectively dealt with email & phone communication but personal visits seem to be unstoppable.

I have tried headphones with loud music. That slows them down, but doesn't stop them. I also have also tried saying things like "I'm right in the middle of something" but they either say that it won't take long or they leave and return in a half hour.

The worst part is that they come to talk about nonsense more often than not. Sometimes they come by just to tell me that they sent me an email. It seems that people really want an immediate response - even if it is just to be acknowledged for having a thought.

I'm starting to think that everyone is so bored in their job that they look for any excuse to leave their desk and fiil time with anything that is not real work.

Anyone got any new ideas on how to deal with this?

[Sven]

Make a sign to put on your desk that shows visiting hours. If someone starts talking outside these hours, point at it and keep working. Stay tough, let them learn! For the people where it doesn't work, make a bigger sign and beat them with it ;-)

[TimW]

Give them a specific time to come back...i.e., set up an appointment.

If they continue, "what part of 'I am busy' is unclear?"

If they continue, "were you born retarded or did you work hard to get there?"

If they continue, shoot them in the face.

Nobody will bother you again.

:)

[badhank]

If they continue, "where you born retarded or did you work hard to get there?"


rofl

But seriously, you do need to be less friendly and more serious (even if you are already serious and not very friendly), if you can make ppl feel uncomfortable in any subtle way they will stop coming. For the more serious offenders single them out, "you, you dont need to disrupt me all day, from now on, while at work, you are to communicate with me in writing only"

[bing42]

Thanks for the responses.

There seems to be a theme here: Be tougher.

You all are right about what needs to be done. I guess I was hoping I wouldn't have to take it to the next level. Prior to 4HWW, I spent lots of time with people, and now they like talking to me... I guess it's a little difficult to give up being well liked....

gotta be done though.

[Doreen]

If you want to maintain those relationships, why not combine being tougher with suggestions like "how about we talk at lunch tomorrow?" or ask if they can go for coffee at 3 PM when you're planning a break anyway.

That gives you a chance to move them away from you while you're working, doesn't make you seem antisocial, and can help train them into the right times to socialize with you on your schedule.

[badhank]

Doreen is right if you are interested in not hurting ppl's feelings and maintaining the relationships you have built. Maybe "eliminate**" the 20% of ppl that bug u 80% of the time (if it applies)

**make it clear to them in private they are not to bug you, no need to kill anyone

[webgal]

I used to close my door and put a sign on it. "Knocking on this door must mean you have a death wish." I made up lots of signs, actually. And changed which one went on the door. Making them was fun.

They'd go back to their office and CALL. If that did not work, they'd put something under the door and slide it annoyingly back and forth. I did manage to get things done and disturbances were fewer. This works if you have a door.

I'd have some fun with it and that way people won't be offended. It almost always works pretty well. (Enough weasel words in there or what?)

Buy some of that yellow plastic caution tape from Lowe's and string it in the opening of your cubicle (if that's what you have). Hang a sign that says something like, "Please, I BEG of you, do not disturb until ---pm. If it is a life threatening emergency, (i.e. a limb has been severed) you may interrupt in 30 minutes."
Then wear ear phones because you'll hear people laughing all the time. I just got used to it and I'd type on.

Anyway, figure out a sign that would work for you. Use your sense of humor if you have one. I guarantee it will preserve the friendships but have an affect on how often you are interrupted. I can't just be blatantly tough. I have to be creatively tough. Adjust it according to your target audience.

I had all sorts of creative ways to keep people out. For one, I didn't always do it. There were times I had to put the nose to the grindstone, though. That was when I was working alone doing the writing part. I've been in a home office 16 years now. I often miss having office buddies.

One thing's for sure. If I was locked up in an office with an art director working on an ad campaign, people respected the process and they did not disturb often. They understood that their entire meeting, campaign or presentation would hinge on what we developed in there and they were almost scared to interrupt. Which we loved, of course.

[final_id]

Your children, dogs, co-workers, spouse, will all appreciate thirty seconds of high-quality carefully attention-filled goal-directed time more than five minutes of distracted random pointless time.

[Sven]

A new muse is on it's way... Custom accessories for 4hww-ers:

Custom download signs by webgal!

A monday morning-on-the-door-at-11-sign, Jeehah, it's almost weekend!
Stuff like that.

T-shirts for in bed: I woke up this morning, I went back to bed.
Every day
Do I have to go home now? I haven't finished my coffee.
I've cracked the 4hww. I'm bored.

[bing42]

Thanks to everyone,

Lots of good ideas...I really like the idea of being exaggerated and making it funny.

I'll try some of them and report back..

[webgal]

Now I can't wait.

Hmmmm Sven. You may have something there. Door hanger for office workers with doors and caution tape warnings for those with cubicles.

[bing42]

Well, I have taken some of your advice and gotten tougher on the visitors that come to my desk. A few cracks at my own expense has helped - like "i'm sorry , can you send me an email about this? I have a terrible memory and I'll forget"

The only trouble remaining is this:

When I say that I'm too busy to deal with them, they immediately go back to their desk and send me a meeting request through outlook. I have tried replying to the request by saying that I cannot attend the meeting and asking them to outline their issue in an email. That works sometimes.

Email forces people to distill their issues into a paragraph, which fosters clear thinking and faster problem solving - but just really want to be paid attention to face to face.

[dking]

Why not just give yourself some all-day meetings? Then when they try to S+ you, they will se that your not free for meetings and don't have the time for them.

If they come to your desk, just tell them you have a tele-meeting..

You really seem oppose do just telling people "go away". Why?

[Crickwat]

You can avoid visitors coming to your desk by not responding to them. Say hi and go back to your work. This will give them hints that you are busy and not to be disturbed. Works for me. You can also put a sign on your door that gives the time when they can visit you.