Excuse Me

What is this woman telling us?

Before you interrupt someone who is busy on the phone, talking with someone, or in

a meeting, ask yourself?...

Do I need to interrupt?

Is this an emergency issue or is this going to effect how I do my work?

YES

Do I need to interrupt?

Approach the person.

How to Appropriately Interrupt

Make Eye Contact.

How to Appropriately Interrupt

Say, “Excuse Me.”

How to Appropriately Interrupt

Wait for a Response.

How to Appropriately Interrupt

• Do I need to interrupt?

Steps: How to Appropriately Interrupt

• Approach the Person.• Make Eye Contact.• Say, “Excuse Me.”• Wait For A Response.

This is your supervisor This is you

You are at work and you are in need of a new memory stick. You know the memory sticks are stored in a locked storeroom. You don’t have the key to the stockroom; however, your supervisor has a key. You approach your supervisor’s desk to ask her for the key, and it appears she is having a meeting with other co-workers.

What should you do?

This is you This is your supervisor

You need more new files. You approach your supervisor to tell her. She is on the phone in her office, and you receive this non-verbal message from her.

What should you do?

This is you This is your supervisor

You work at a fast-paced Mexican restaurant. It is lunch time and it is very crowded. You are in charge of keeping the bathrooms clean. There is a leak in one of the bathrooms, and it is beginning to flood. Should you interrupt your manager who is helping a customer?

What should you do?

This is you This is your supervisor

You are at work and you are wondering what gift you should bring to the company holiday party which is coming up in two weeks. Should you interrupt your supervisor while he is on the phone to ask him for gift advice?

What should you do?

This is you This is your supervisor

What did I learn from this activity?

I learned how and when to interrupt appropriately in the workplace. I learned five steps on how to appropriately interrupt.

Anything else?