A teacher is preparing tomorrow’s lesson. A designer is working through a complex draft. A manager is reviewing a decision with real consequences.
Then come the messages, meeting invitations, quick questions, and requests that could wait.
Attention is one of the resources a team needs to do thoughtful work. Leaders influence whether people have enough of it.
Before interrupting someone, ask whether the matter is urgent, whether the answer already exists, and whether it can be grouped with other questions.
Protecting focused time is a practical way to respect the work you have asked people to do.
What interruption could you remove from someone else’s day?
