Chaotic work environment and constant interruptions

[zippydoodaar]

Started a new job recently and the department is very often chaotic. I am constantly interrupted and find it very difficult to manage my time as everything is urgent. I am very good at pushing back but it is absolutely doing my head in. Added to that, when I have someone on the phone I am usually being 'spoken at' by a couple of colleagues offering advice/telling me what to do while I am trying to hear what the person on the other end of the line is talking to me.

This is absolutely my worst case work scenario and if I'd realised it would be like this then I wouldn't have accepted the job. Most of the department is like this (30 to 40 staff) so I don't think I have a cat in hells chance of trying to change the culture.

Does anybody actually like working in an environment like this or is it just me being a miserable old hag. I feel absolutely frazzled at the end of the day and cried on the way home.

I'm a nursery manager and you've just described my normal day
:)
Everything is urgent and I am constantly interrupted
Its exhausting but it's very satisfying too

I guess it depends on the interruptions.

Most of mine are asking me if I'm busy because they need me to do x, y, z. When I ask when the answer is generally NOW. I have to stop what I'm and start their task which can take anything from 5 to 30 minutes. It's just ridiculous and not at all satisfying.

Build some barriers round your desk - large handbag and plastic carriers if you hotdesk, potted plants if you have an assigned place. Put a chair and distance from your desk for colleagues to 'meet' with you. Draw a chalk line around a square which contains the chair and enough space for your chair. That is your 'meeting room'. Put a sign up on to a piece of chipboard asking people to knock before speaking. Whenever you take a call, always turn away from the 'meeting room', put your finger in your other ear, and i find shutting your eyes really helps. Any time you are speaking to someone, turn away from your desl/phone and 'hospitably' seat them in the 'meeting room'. The standing up to finish a conversation can really help too.

Thanks anna, I'm not actually sure how that would work in practice.

I have my own desk but most of the team hotdesk and are in and out of the office. Because of the nature of their roles, they don't use email a lot and tend to come up to me with a 'task' expecting me to stop what I'm doing and write it all down.

It's such a bizarre environment with some very strong personalities.