Free HR Services from our Employee Relations Experts. Find out more.

Our Business Services

Chamber of Commerce & Industry WA

With over 130 years of experience representing WA businesses, we’re ready to help with the resources and advice you need to succeed.

Employee Relations Helpline

Employee Relations Helpline

Get timely, reliable and practical employee relations advice on employment laws, the awards system and other human resource matters. CCIWA Members get unlimited access.

Business Law WA - Legal Services

Legal Services at BLWA

Through our incorporated legal practice, Business Law WA, our team of experienced, client-focused business lawyers offer a full range of Commercial Law & Employment Law services for all your essential legal needs.

Accounting & Taxation Services

Optima Partners and CCIWA

Innovative and personalised accounting, taxation and business advisory services that focus on delivering the best results to help your business grow.

Workplace Health & Safety Services

Workplace Health & Safety Services

Unlock the potential of your business with our suite of staff training and development programs, crafted by workplace relations experts and tailored to your business needs.

Construction & Mining IR Services

Construction & Mining IR Services

We offer extensive, independent and practical industrial and labour relations support to the engineering, construction and mining industries.

Workplace Training & Development

Workplace Training & Development

Unlock the potential of your business with our suite of staff training and development programs, crafted by workplace relations experts and tailored to your business needs.

Apprenticeship Support Australia WA

Apprenticeship Support Australia WA

Our dedicated team specialises in assisting employers maximise the benefits of investing in apprenticeships and traineeships to build local skills for the diverse WA workforce. Our team of experts will provide all the advice, support and services you need — free of charge.

Work Integrated Learning – Internships

Work Integrated Learning - Internships

Tap into WA’s future workforce with our Work Integrated Learning – Internships program. This free service facilitates university student work experience placements for your business.

Industry Capability Network WA

Industry Capability Network WA

Connecting your business with mining, construction, infrastructure, defence and other major projects using the ICN Gateway.

International Trade Services

International Trade Services

Take your business global using our comprehensive suite of international trade services to streamline importing and exporting, reduce risks and identify international partners.

You have one free articles for this month. Sign up for a CCIWA Membership for unlimited access.

Time is precious – how do you manage yours?

By Michelle Pittorino

We all know managers get very little uninterrupted time to work on their priority tasks.

Between phone calls, information requests, questions from employees and a whole host of things that crop up unexpectedly, when are you supposed to get your work done?

Some interruptions need to be dealt with immediately, but others need to be managed.

Here are three techniques you can use to manage interruptions (or interrupters)

1. Keep an interrupters log

If interruptions are constantly disrupting your schedule try recording them all for a week in an interrupters log, then analyse the data.

Work out which interruptions are valid and which are not.

You can’t avoid all interrupters – like answering urgent questions – but you can schedule them so you still have time complete your daily work. It’s a great way to work out which interruptions aren’t valid and block them from your schedule.

2. Disrupt the disrupters

If interrupters could have waited for a meeting or completed the work themselves, decline their disruption politely but assertively.

Hold regular meetings with people – if they know they will have access to you at a defined point, they will learn to wait.

However, some interruptions are both urgent and valid so you will need to deal with these situations as and when they arise.

3. ‘Available’ and ‘unavailable’ time

It’s simple yet effective – let people know when you are available and when you’re not. A closed office door works well, but may be more difficult in an open plan office. Be creative, make a fun exercise for staff to come up with a sign that says ‘do not disturb’ so everyone is on the same page.

Not only will it avert interruptions, it will avoid hurt feelings.

A word for managers 

Remember, handling urgent matters is part of your role, so keep the barriers at a workable level. Inspire and coach your team to be as effective as possible.

Skill up with CCIWA’s regular safety and employee relations courses, which are customisable to your business. Find out more here.

We all know managers get very little uninterrupted time to work on their priority tasks.