I found that working in batch is the best and the most productive. For instance, in order to process my email, I allocate 20 minutes during which I read and reply to all mail. Doing so, I do not incur the overhead of switching from one task to another. Also by limiting myself to a period of time to do a particular task, I found out to be more productive since I compete with myself to reach that small goal.

The only problem with working in batches is the interruption I get from my fellow colleagues. Whilst you are making your utmost to reach a particular goal and trash a batch of similar tasks (like replying to all mails), someone comes in the office to ask or inform you about something. They don’t have a clue that by doing that, they are making you less productive!

Scheduling a meeting is the solution! By scheduling a meeting with myself for a specific period, I found out that I don’t get interrupted. This is because before someone comes and gives the latest piece of information, they check whether I am in the office or if I am in a meeting.

As time passed and I stuck to the above technique, my colleagues started to get used to the way how I work and they interrupted me less whilst I am at the most productive time. By applying this technique, I noticed that I started to have more time to better communicate with my colleagues both on work related and non work related stuff.