How to get rid of a chatty colleague?
28 November 2011
Read by 2128 persons
You have colleagues who tend to come to your office too often to chat, and you'd like to dissuade them without making enemies. Here's how to do it.
1. Stand up. Managers who have their own office generally have an extra chair in the room. Prevent someone from immediately sitting down by standing up as soon as the person enters. This encourages the visitor to get straight to the point.
2. Head for the door. You can even take a step further. Suppose you already see the visitor arriving in the hallway, get up and go straight to the office entrance. Put your left hand on the doorframe and hold the door with your right hand. It's a safe bet that the visitor won't hang around before letting you know the purpose of their visit.
3. Stack papers. Put a pile of papers on the chair. Only clear this pile if you want your visitor to stay a little longer to discuss important things.
4. Grab a notepad. Immediately grab a pen and a piece of paper and ask your colleague what you can do for them. In this way you direct the conversation towards work-related matters.
5. Go get coffee. Say it's time for a coffee break. Chances are your colleague will join you. Leave them on the way back by saying you need to get back to work. This is easier to do while walking than to get rid of someone who is planted in your office.
Frédéric Duval-Levesque - (psychotherapy, coaching and training)
Psychotherapeute.wordpress.com
Published on September 28, 2011.
Posted online on November 28, 2011.
1. Stand up. Managers who have their own office generally have an extra chair in the room. Prevent someone from immediately sitting down by standing up as soon as the person enters. This encourages the visitor to get straight to the point.
2. Head for the door. You can even take a step further. Suppose you already see the visitor arriving in the hallway, get up and go straight to the office entrance. Put your left hand on the doorframe and hold the door with your right hand. It's a safe bet that the visitor won't hang around before letting you know the purpose of their visit.
3. Stack papers. Put a pile of papers on the chair. Only clear this pile if you want your visitor to stay a little longer to discuss important things.
4. Grab a notepad. Immediately grab a pen and a piece of paper and ask your colleague what you can do for them. In this way you direct the conversation towards work-related matters.
5. Go get coffee. Say it's time for a coffee break. Chances are your colleague will join you. Leave them on the way back by saying you need to get back to work. This is easier to do while walking than to get rid of someone who is planted in your office.
Frédéric Duval-Levesque - (psychotherapy, coaching and training)
Psychotherapeute.wordpress.com
Published on September 28, 2011.
Posted online on November 28, 2011.
