How to Stop Annoying Office Talkers
Tips on Dealing with Chatty Coworkers
Feb 12, 2009 Ronald G Falconberry
Nearly everyone has experienced the frustration of being caught by an annoying office talker; that person who seems to wander from office to office or cubicle to cubicle looking for someone to chat with.
Businesses cannot function without communication and there is a legitimate place in office settings for both business and personal conversations. Still, individuals who talk incessantly not only have a negative impact on their coworkers' productivity, they can hurt themselves socially because everyone tends to avoid being near them.
The following ideas should help to stop the conversation when an annoying office talker happens to come around.
Be Direct with Annoying Office Talkers
The most direct way to avoid a long-winded talk is to be honest. Saying something like, “Listen, is this something we can discuss later? These project specifications are due by 5:00 and I've got to get them finished,” will let the talker know that, if he simply wants to chat, the conversation will have to wait.
Use Non-Verbal Cues to Dissuade Chatty Coworkers
Give non-verbal cues that a chat is not convenient by continuing to work as if the speaker is not present. Avoid eye contact, head-nodding and any verbal responses such as yeah or uh-huh which only serve to encourage the talker. This may be difficult because ignoring someone is considered rude and most people don't want to make their coworkers mad. Still, initiating and continuing an uninvited conversation is quite rude and insensitive, too; especially if the listener has already explained that they do not have time to talk.
Interrupt Annoying Office Talkers
If the annoying office talker fails to recognize the non-verbal cues, an interruption may help. Pick up the telephone and make a call, get up and carry paperwork to another coworker under the pretense of needing help or simply go the restroom. In some offices with a particularly notorious talker, coworkers may network to help rescue each other. If someone is trapped at their desk, a coworker may call the victim's telephone or drop by with an urgent need for help or they may dial the talker's telephone so that he or she walks away to answer the call.
Make Time to Talk with Office Talkers
Apart from not knowing when to stop, some office talkers may actually have interesting things to say outside of the business setting. If that is the case, set a time to take a break together or even go to lunch. The conversation will not interfere with work and, when the break or lunch is over, the listener can walk away and go back to work.
Confront the Chatty Coworker
Depending on the office talker's personality and disposition, it might be prudent to simply sit down with them in private and explain how their chatting adversely affects the work of their coworkers. This solution runs the risk of producing hurt feelings so it requires a certain level of tact, sensitivity and compassion. Just remember that everyone, even the annoying talker, wants to be liked and accepted, so a kindhearted approach is important if a talker is to be confronted.
Inform Management about Office Talkers
If all else fails, document the number and duration of unwelcome chats by the office talker, then, as a last resort, approach management. If they realize how much time a person spends talking and the impact it has on the office's productivity, they will be motivated to have their own conversation with that person and find ways to help him or her be more productive.
While office talkers may be annoying many of them are nice people so, whatever method is used to stop their talking, always try to consider their feelings when dealing with them.
How to Stop Office Talkers
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