11/17/2024

How to Stop Recurring Requests from Consuming Your Time

Encourage staff to submit questions in writing and then catalog them

Repeatedly answering the same questions or dealing with recurring requests can prevent you from tackling high-value strategic work. If this sounds familiar, you’re likely applying temporary fixes to broader, systemic problems.

Take it from a recent coaching session I had with an executive, an attorney turned strategist, overwhelmed by daily interruptions from staff with “legal issues”—many of which weren't legal issues at all or were minor enough not to warrant escalation. This wasn't just a nuisance; it was a distraction from her core responsibilities.

Identify Patterns, Create Solutions

When I helped her identify a pattern—80 percent of inquiries concerned the same handful of issues—the solution became clear. She decided to produce a concise training video and a quick reference guide addressing these common queries. This proactive approach aimed to reduce repetitive questions significantly.

Please select this link to read the complete blog post from The Eblin Group.