#LRH56: DISTRACTIONS

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Distractions

Have you ever completed a busy day without accomplishing anything? You were probably distracted. Ever wonder why you feel frustrated at work? Distractions might be stopping you. Ever feel stress? Distractions may be the source.

Distractions are destructive forces that ruin production. Examples: Chatty coworkers, family problems, sunny days, rainy days, holidays, earthquakes, debts, salespeople, money concerns, health problems and so on.

Recognizing distractions is the first step to dealing with them. For example, telemarketing telephone calls are hugely unpopular because they are distractions. A detailed description about a movie while you are working is a distraction unless you are in the movie business. A store clerk who is talking about his personal problems on the telephone while customers wait is another example.

An important long-term solution to distractions? Get organized.

"Those indivduals or areas that are the least well-organized are affected the most by distractions." -- L. Ron Hubbard

A well-organized business understands distractions and organizes to deal with them. For example, a key worker calls in sick. The group calls a temporary worker from an agency within minutes. A poorly-organized group discusses the problem for 20 minutes without coming to a solution. They are then distracted all day because they have to do the missing worker's job.

When a well-organized business owner gets a legal notice, he or she delegates the problem to the legal person and focuses on making a prosperous day. A poorly-organized business owner drops everything and spends the entire morning on the telephone and worries about it all day.

Well-organized groups handle emergencies, disasters and sudden increases in production without breathing hard. Poorly-organized groups are overwhelmed with them.

Personal Organization

Organizing your own life so you are not distracted boosts your productivity and income.

For example, you don't need to talk to everyone who calls. It's silly to read every piece of mail or email you receive.

By getting organized, you ignore all communications that do not support your purpose. While working, you ignore family problems, personal problems and even health problems. All superior producers do. While working, nothing is more important than the work.

Instead of listening to a sales pitch, you say, "I'm sorry, I have to get back to work. Thank you."

Instead of listening to an employee's lengthy discussion about a problem, you say, "That's so important that I'd like you to put it in writing for me so I can study it. Will you do that?"

Instead of daydreaming about a hike in the mountains, you do your work as fast as possible so you can take that hike.

When you organize your job, you avoid, ignore or replace people who distract you with their chit-chat, criticalness or stupidity. You do the same with employees or coworkers who do everything but their jobs.

How to Get Better Organized

1. Write down five of your biggest distractions.

2. Next to the first distraction, write down how you can get organized to reduce the distraction.

3. Do the same for the other items on the list.

4. Follow your plans and get organized!

5. Write down permanent rules or policies for yourself or your work so you stay organized.

Personal examples: "I will only take personal calls during my lunch hour." "If I get hungry during the afternoon, I will chew gum and keep working until 5:00." "I will avoid conflicts with my brother by not talking about my job with him."

Business examples: "Each December, we will do these steps to keep our attention on our work despite the holidays." "If someone asks you to do their job, ask them for their pay." "If you have a suggestion for the company, please write down the complete details and put it in my basket."

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