Tip #2: Dealing with The Casual Interruption
It’s going to happen. Bossibal Lecture is going to come in to check on you.
She’s going to pretend like she’s not. She’ll pop in your doorway casually. She’ll probably lean up against the door frame. Maybe she’ll be carrying her coffee mug.
Don’t be fooled. This is all posturing. This is all intended to send you the message, “Hey, it’s cool. Things are chill right now. We’re buds. What’s up?”
It’s a trap!
You’ll know for sure if she says, “How are you today?” Button down all the hypothetical hatches. Draw up all the imaginary bridges. Tighten all the superstitious screws. She’s up to something! She doesn’t give a shit how you are.
Before you respond to her question, calmly minimize the Word Doc file or close out of the Google Drive window you’re working on. As you move to click, say, “Let me just save this.”
Then turn to her and give her your full attention.
Say, “I’m fine, thanks. How are you?” Always put the question back to her.
Hey, maybe she just wanted to tell you something personal. Maybe her kids or grandchildren achieved something remarkable recently, and she desperately needs to tell someone about it. Then, curtains up on your off-hallway production of L'Employé Excité! (Good news is, it’s a short production, and it’ll be over soon.)
If she blows off your question, the trap is on.
Always maintaining eye contact. This will show her that you recognize her superiority and respect her interruption, but lean back and fold your hands to let her know that you’re deliberately pausing your workflow to hear her out.
She’ll say something mundane. After all, she didn’t need anything specific from you in the first place. She was only spying.
If she says, “How’s it going?” Say, “Busy,” and rub your forehead.
If she says, “You busy?” Say, “Busy, busy,” in a sing-song way, and nod your head thoughtfully.
Immediately follow-up with the question, “Do you need something right away, or can I finish this—” Point at your computer screen. “—and get back with you when I’m done?”
More often than not, this should be enough to send Bossibal Lecture back to her lair.
Congratulations! You kept your cool under pressure. As a prize, you’ve earned yourself at least another half hour of uninterrupted writing time.
For our next tip, we’ll discuss what to do if that’s not enough. Stay tuned!