A STUDY has shown that office-based workers spend an average of 2.1 hours a day dealing with interruptions.

More than 1,000 workers were polled and the majority said it takes five to 15 minutes following an interruption to become fully immersed in their original task.

A common complaint from workers is that people tend to send several emails when one phone call would suffice.

Fleet managers are no exception to interruptions, working with suppliers, manufacturers, internal staff and drivers on a daily basis.

Sally Weeks, fleet manager at Maxxium, said: ‘Phone calls and emails are the bane of my life. We get several speculative cold callers alongside queries from suppliers and our own staff. Managers need to install a decent phone system that screens calls and be disciplined not to look at every email when it comes in.’

Minimising distractions

  • Turn off the automatic email alert and check manually instead
  • If a missed call is not urgent, wait an hour before returning it
  • Try unplugging from the internet and using phone and voicemail
  • Don’t interrupt someone if they are typing
  • Install a phone system that can screen calls