Interruptions are a fact of work life. Sometimes it’s necessary to disrupt someone’s flow to ask a question or to communicate key information that’s just come up. When this happens, do what you can to ensure your “sorry to bother you” moment isn’t annoying. Before interrupting, look out for signs that they might be busy or focusing. Are they listed as “away” or “available” online? Do they have the hour blocked off on their calendar? These cues can give you a sense of how intrusive an interruption might be at that moment. If you determine that the person might be available, think about how you can reduce the ask ahead of time. How can you keep the interruption succinct? Are there steps you could complete on your own before bringing them in? It’s all about how you’re perceived — even if these details don’t feel like a big deal to you, presenting the interruption in a manner that highlights your respect for the other person’s time can have a major impact on how they react.