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Marc Hershon and Jonathan Littman help you finish on time.

It’s a familiar story: Your most important project stalls just as your deadline looms. How can you get yourself—and the rest of your team—back on track? Marc Hershon and Jonathan Littman, authors of the new business guide I Hate People!, a tongue-in-cheek handbook for solving common office conflicts, share four proven strategies to help ensure you’ll never need to beg the boss for another extension.

1) Get Alone Time. Try a “cube makeover” to discourage visitors. Staffers at companies ranging from Google to IDEO to Pixar create makeshift curtains out of fabric or beads to discourage uninvited drop-ins from coworkers.

2) Shoot for Three. Pick a trio to lead your next project. A University of Illinois study found no improvement in productivity when work groups expanded beyond three people. Selection is key. You’re building a special ensemble, not a typical team.

3) Take 10. The average worker faces at least 73 interruptions a day, hindering his ability to do concentrated, higher-level thinking. Fix the problem by taking a “quick 10” minutes at a set time every day. No calls, e-mails, or visitors. You’ll be amazed at how much you finish. 

4) Call a Timeout. Sometimes solving a tough problem just means stepping away. The fresh perspective may spark an original insight. For a quick mental recharge on a busy day, you can take a noontime stroll through a museum or spend a few minutes solving a crossword or Sudoku puzzle.