For anyone in a managerial (leadership, supervisorial) role, what tips do you have in regards to communicating to employees that you are not available for questions or that you are working on something that requires no disruptions?
Today, as ADON, I was pretty much the only member of the leadership team present at work. The executive director was gone, the DON was gone, both social workers were gone, the health unit coordinators were gone, one unit manager was pulled to the floor and the other unit manager left halfway through the day. I didn't appreciate so many people being gone on one day, because that meant I got dumped on, but that's another story.
My office is now in the basement, but I do spend most of my time upstairs completing various duties and helping out the staff on the floor. However, sometimes there are simply times when I have work that needs to be completed undisturbed, so I do go back to my office in the basement. I've noticed that this really isn't an effective measure in getting things done uninterrupted, however, as people continuously come down anyways.
Today was especially horrific--I must have had at least 8 interruptions when I was down in my office for various requests. It was during this time that I was completing some important reporting that comes with my position. All of these requests were things that the staff should have been able to handle on their own, such as contacting maintenance for cold water in a room or a telephone not working; wondering how to make a TV remote work; a patient had purulent drainage from a wound, and instead of contacting the provider, the nurse came to me instead; someone might not be able to come to work tomorrow if they aren't able to find a ride, and it went on and on. I finally had to leave some work for next week unfinished because I was getting so irritated by the constant interruptions. Not to mention I was quite annoyed with all of the other members of management who somehow were able to have the entire day off or, at the very least, work in the peace of their own homes.
I had originally thought about blocking my office door with a large piece of furniture, but thought better of it, knowing it was probably a fire and/or fall hazard. I've also thought about bringing in a lamp that I can have at my desk to complete work, while turning off the overhead lights so, from the outside, I don't appear to be in the room.
What are some other suggestions or ways to indicate to staff that, while I do want to help them, that sometimes I need to complete my work uninterrupted and am not currently available for questions?
