Garrulous
Sunday’s word of the day – garrulous – made me laugh. It reminded me of an old coworker that just talked and talked and talked. Talked about personal things. Talked about trivial things. Talked about work things. Always talking.
How do you end a conversation with one of these people? How do you get them to leave your desk when you are really trying to work?
The thing is, they are sweet natured, but sometimes you don’t want to smile and nod and listen to someone ramble on… you want to get your work done so you can leave the office at 5:00.
Oh well, those who know me, know I am guilty of this from time to time as well…
Themocracy
if you figure out how to end a conversation with a garrulous person please let me know!! i need to figure out how to politely end a conversation with my co-worker…. not only does he like to ramble on and on during the day but especially at 5:00 when i’m trying to walk out the door…
I have one of those in my office. She bores me to tears! My tactic is to get up and go to the loo or pretend I need to make a copy/fax/meet with someone.
Ha! Yeah, I think I am that person. Though I generally know when to cut it off in a professional setting…but otherwise, I just always have a running narrative of my life. 😉
I have a co worker that is like that. When I really want to get a lot of work done, I say, “well…I have a lot of stuff to get thru, so I’ll chatt with you later…” Its polite, its the truth, it works.
I have a co-worker like that too. She’ll ask a specific question about my life for the sole purpose of responding with a 30 to 45-minute story.
1) If someone else joins the conversation, I’ll slowly back away.
2) If no one else is around, I try to work other people into the conversation so she can engage them. (Then follow step one.)
3) If she comes into my office to talk, I begin answering an e-mail when the conversation begins to drag. She’s very good about taking this cue and ending her story relatively soon.
thanks for the tips and ideas!!!! i’m going to start using them!!!!
🙂
There is a mother of a girl on my dance team that is this way. At dance competitions the parents always try to sit away from her. She sometimes says things that shouldnt be said either. If no one is talking to her at a competion she will talk to parents from differnt schools(they are complete strangers). Some people just act like theyre talking to other people or they just walk away. Its REALLY bad!
sizzle – Our office is just so small – the person can follow me right over!
diane – I wish you worked at my office because I love talking to you!!!
Gina (Mannyed) – I gotta try being honest. You’re right.
ajooja – It sounds like your coworker knows exactly what she is doing and even has a plan! Yikes! But at least you figured her out. People who do that are so annoying – they act like they are interested in you, but really they want to talk about themselves!
CourtneyInControl – Are you going to be honest like Gina suggested? I just want to say to people – “STFU so I can work!” 😉
Danielle – That is so sad. It makes me crazy when adults don’t act like adults. She must be really desperate for attention.