Whatever company I work in, I see the same kind of interruptions.

I call them “drive-bys”.

Someone walks past your desk, metaphorically shoots you, and carries on.
You stop.
You lose the thread.
The thing you were trying to finish just got harder.

I’ve done this myself.

I’ve asked someone to “just take a quick look at something”, then an hour later realised what I’d actually done and had a quiet word with myself.

Because this stuff matters.

Our actions don’t just have consequences, they teach people what’s acceptable.
If I break the rules, why should anyone else stick to them?

We often describe leadership as a servant role, providing what the team needs.
I agree with that, but I see two responsibilities at play.

One is service, removing blockers and helping people succeed.
The other is leadership, setting direction and being firm enough to protect focus.

Drive-bys undermine both.

And it nearly always lands on the same person.
The busiest, most reliable one on the team.

This is solvable.

It usually needs intervention on both sides.

Teams need permission and language to push back, using the leader’s own priorities and focus to say no with confidence.
Leaders need to recognise that setting priority isn’t just about what people work on, it’s about helping them say no to everything else.

This is exactly the kind of assistance I’m usually asked to provide when teams are busy, well intentioned, and still struggling to get work finished.