Today’s guest blogger is Cathy Holloway Hill. She is founder and CEO of C. Holloway Hill Enterprises, a personal and professional development organization specializing in technology consulting, training, and career/life coaching.
We have all experienced the stress of an annoying co-worker who talks non-stop. In moderation, talking can be very enjoyable and enlightening, but there’s a fine line between quality conversation and non-stop chatter that has no value. Whether it’s your best friend, a family member, your child, a co-worker, or someone you don’t know, these tips will have you tactfully manage the situation without offending the chatterbox:
1- Redirect the conversation. If the co-worker is someone you’d be happy to talk with at a more convenient time, offer to reschedule your talk or suggest a lunch date. Try saying, “this is a great story, but let’s get together later so that I can hear the details. I want to ensure I get this report completed on time.” This takes away the sting of possible hurt feelings from the friend or co-worker.
2- If the person is sensitive, then try putting the responsibility on you. Say something like “This isn’t you, it’s me, and I’m perpetually rushed” or “I am not a good phone person because I’m always busy multi-tasking when I talk on the phone, and I want to ensure you have my full attention, so let’s try to come up with a viable alternative time to talk that works for us both.” This may be a difficult conversation for even the most assertive among us. But unless you initiate and/or try to confront the situation, then it’s partly your fault for allowing the person to control your time, right? People can tell when you’re focused on them and when you’re not. By setting fair and respectable ground rules, you can have conversations when you’re ready to engage and give that person your full attention, which, in the long run, will result in both you and your chatting friend feel good.
3- If you’re fortunate enough to have an office, try either closing your office door or partly closing it to alert people that you’re busy working. If the chatterbox comes in regardless of the partially closed door, continue to work while they are talking and look up occasionally to insinuate that you’re busy.
4- If all else fails, tell the person in a very sensitive and kind manner that you’re busy and you only have a short amount of time to finish your project. Offer to call the person later.
5- If the chatterbox is a chronic annoyance, ask the individual if they would mind assisting you with some of your work. This is a great way to run the person off, but if it doesn’t work, then you’ll have help getting your tasks completed. Either way, it’s a win-win!
Cathy hosts a live Radio Talk Show every Wednesday entitled, “Living By Design”. This radio talk show focuses on self, health, and wealth to enhance and advance the lives of women. Cathy’s co-host, Mr. Tony Lamont is an icon in the broadcasting industry. Visit her at: http://chollowayhill.com
What do you think? What could you say to a chatterbox coworker, so they’ll stop talking and let you get back to serving your customers – WITHOUT damaging your relationship with that coworker?
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