For those counting, this is my fifth work-related social etiquette thread. It’s because I suck at life.
I share an office with someone who keeps trying to make small talk when I would like to work.
He can’t tell when I’m trying to ignore him. If I don’t answer, he’ll ask for a response. If I give a one word response, he’ll launch into his long winded story while I have to sit and listen.
Everyone else does their obligatory “how’s it going” only about once a day. Some of my closer friends will stop by once for a longer chat. This guy will start talking to me around five times a day.
What’s even more irritating is that when I"m talking to another coworker while he’s working, he’ll tell us both to be quiet so that he can concentrate on his work. The second he stops working and wants to chat, he has no problem interrupting me while I work.
I don’t want to upset the guy, and I don’t want to tell him to be quiet five times a day. Or to be quiet “until further notice,” because he can’t understand when to leave people alone on his own.
Can you use exactly his words and tone, when he tells you and your friends to be quiet, to tell him the same? Repeat as often as necessary, and he’ll get the message.
And it would probably be a good idea to have your friends stop coming by to chat. It gives him the idea that casual chat is ok in your workspace, which seems to be counter to the message that you are trying to send him.
Roddy
Any chance you could use headphones as a signal to not bother you? You don’t even have to be listening to anything, just have them on your ears.
Just telling him you’re trying to get work done and you don’t have time to talk right now, really should work fine too. Instead of the one-word answer, just say, " I don’t have time to chat right now."
Do this. And if you happen to make eye contact, just point at your ear and shake your head uncomprehendingly.
But this implies you might want to talk at some other time. You might have more long term success with completely ignoring him, except for looking up and saying “Huh?” with an expression on your face as though he’s speaking a language you don’t understand.
I don’t know what to tell you. I’ve had co-workers like that; nice people, but for some reason they just have to talk, talk, talk talk talktalktalktalktalktalktalktalktalktalktalk. And can’t seem to pick up on when the conversation is over.
Every time he tries to start up a “chat”, always steer the conversation to, “Have you heard the Word of the Lord?” or “Are you ready for the end-times?” or some such topic.
Or ask the boss to move you into some other office.
I guess you can carry an Amway brochure and whip it out (as it were) at these moments.
This makes me think of a scene on Wings, where Joe and Helen were trying to get rid of a couple who had taken the last two seats on a flight. Joe said to the other man and woman with great enthusiasm, “I’m so glad we’re sitting next to you, because we’ll have plenty of time to talk about your life insurance needs!” and Helen chimes in with equal enthusiasm, “And I’ve just found the Lord!” The other couple ran like the wind.
My favorite is “the high note.” More or less ignore the talker for a bit and then interrupt them with a stupid joke. When they either laugh or look at you sideways say “goodnight!” and walk away with your hands in the air like a comic leaving the stage. Of course it works best if you have somewhere to be.
Ha! I go right on typing and answering the phone while clueless co-workers stand at my shoulder, talking. They never get it. And they don’t need my participation. As long as there’s a warm body in proximity to them, it’s blahblahblahblahblah.