The first words out of his mouth? “Leah Lewis is my new best friend.”

In what was a banner year for Dave Duke, the senior sales team member was called on to say a few words to the group as he accepted his “Account Representative of the Year" Award last month. Though they all played a huge role in his success, he didn’t first acknowledge his Sales Manager, his colleagues, or even executive leadership. He thanked his biller.

Leah handles all of the billing for Dave’s accounts (along with multiple other reps), checking his math, double-checking his credits, doing the financials, and working to ensure all goes smoothly. Essentially, it’s seamless. Though Leah is relatively new to the organization, her ability to multitask, deal with unanticipated requests, and respond to the steady stream of inquiries she gets throughout the day is universally appreciated… and impressive.

“I’m so thankful that she’s my biller. She’s got six salespeople in her ear all the time, and everybody’s problems are more important than the other guys,” Dave said. “For the short period of time she’s been here, she’s picked up on everything phenomenally.

We’ve all been there. You’re fully engaged with a task, you’ve got momentum going your way on a project, and then an urgent email slides in your inbox. Or a colleague pops into your cubicle area needing something “now.” In the spirit of Datamax Principle #14, how do we deal with interruptions positively?

Leah Lewis knows how.

Interruptions are inevitable.

It’s best to acknowledge this now. You can’t work anywhere for much longer than a few hours before an interruption in your planned routine drops in your lap. That doesn’t mean they’re all bad. Making yourself available to employees and coworkers shows you’re accessible, demonstrates you’re pro-collaboration and keeps you engaged in the goals of your department and the company.

“Dealing with interruptions positively is literally our work life (in her department),” says Arkansas Administration Manager Kristen Finkbeiner. “We don’t have any other option. I tell people when I’m interviewing them you have to be willing to be a part of a team. This is never a one-person show, and we are here to support you internally and externally. It’s non-negotiable.”

Prioritization is a must.

What does Leah do when she’s got three requests standing literally at her cube? She prioritizes.

“It’s a priority thing for me. If I’m working on a contract but a sales order comes over, that takes priority,” Leah said. “I can’t throw a pity party and say ‘I’m in the middle of contracts.’”

An added bonus, and a relief factor for the reps she works with? Leah is both fast and accurate.

“I’ve just been thoroughly impressed by how fast she picks up this stuff and how thorough she is,” Dave said. “And she’s super fast (at processing orders). In the rare occasion that she does make a mistake, she’ll call you and say ‘I messed up, but I’ve got it fixed.’”

Attitude is everything.

When we get pressed by a coworker for something, both communication and body language are key factors in handling the interruption the right way. As President Barry Simon says, he makes it a point to at least acknowledge the person with the question or request. Is it fast? He might be able to handle it now. If not, we might need to reschedule. But his emphasis lies in accessibility to his employees.

"Attitude is everything,” Leah says. “It’s the way you carry yourself. My mom used to tell me, ‘put your attitude in your back pocket.’ When I do get frustrated, I always try to not let it affect my work.”

Patience is a virtue.

Leah practices patience every morning. In her car, before stepping into the office, she prays for patience for the day ahead. She may have stress, but she works diligently not to let it show through to her team.

“She’s surprisingly calm. I wouldn’t be. If I had six people standing at my desk, I’d tell them to get in line,” Dave says.  

There are words to describe someone who deals with interruptions positively. Accessible. Collaborative. Patient and approachable. At Datamax, we might say it a little differently.

“In the Datamax vernacular, I’m a Raving Fan of Leah Lewis,” Dave said.