CHAPTER 10STARVING OUT THE TIME GOBBLERS

“What a folly to dread the thought of throwing away life at once, and yet tohave no regard to throwing away by parcels …”

—JOHN HOWE, ENGLISH THEOLOGIAN

George, a rising manager, asked his boss about his biggest time management problem—his staff. “I can do my work—or could,” said George. “But I’m constantly interrupted by the people who work for me. If I’m stopped every five minutes, I can’t do my own work.”

This problem bothers many. Don’t let it be a serious roadblock to you. Your work and their work can (must!) coexist.

Sure, an open-door policy is good. But that shouldn’t preclude block time when your door is closed—from 9:00 to 11:00 A.M. each Wednesday and Friday, for instance. People will work around ...

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