TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
Subject:Re: Sorry to interrupt... From:"Jessica N. Lange" <jlange -at- OEE -dot- COM> Date:Wed, 2 Jun 1999 10:12:13 -0400
Interruptions are only bothersome when I'm concentrating
really *really* hard: trying to learn a new sw program; starting
a big project; trying to meet an imminent deadline; and so on.
I try to discourage interruptions at those times by putting
on the headphones and cranking the music up as high as I
can. Unfortunately, this seldom works. The person
interrupting usually speaks to the back of my head for
a while before realizing I'm not hearing them. Then they
get more aggressive about interrupting (moving so I can
see them, slapping my chair or poking my shoulder).
This behavior has always astonished me: It is so **obvious**
that I am busy--fingers hammering at the keyboard, eyes
riveted on the comp.monitor. No work-related interruption
has ever been anything that couldn't have been handled
remotely: Leave a note, call my voicemail, or better yet,
email me!!!
I dunno what the answer is to interruptions: find a job where
you get an office with a door, or work at home. As you can tell,
I find interruptions incredibly frustrating--except when work
is slow: then they're welcome! :-)
----------------------------------------------------
Jessica N. Lange mailto:jlange -at- oee -dot- com
Technical Communicator, Ohio Electronic Engravers, Inc.
