More Than a Minute

Here's a tip: If you find you're being interupted often by coworkers asking for "a minute" that turns into MANY minutes, try this.

Coworker: Do you have a minute we can talk?
You: Will it only take a minute? If it will take longer, can we schedule it for later?

You will need to judge when to do this. When your boss asks for a minute, you'll want to give it to him or her. Use this technique when you are sure the conversation is probably not going to yield the results you want for the time you spend. Let your coworker know that you appreciate their time, and you want to be able to give them your full attention. Let me know how this works for you.