When you are talking on the phone to one person (A), and someone else in the room starts talking to you?

Question

What do you do?
1) Tell A to hold on, then talk to B
2) Tell B to wait a sec, finish talking to A
3) Use left side of brain for A, right side of brain for B
4) Tell B to f*ck off and then keep talking to A
5) Hang up the phone in disgust
6) anything else?

This happens to me all the time and what ends up happening is I end up not being able to hear either person! ugh...

sorry, the person in the room is called "B" :-)

Answer 1

You tell Person A to hold on for one second; then politely point out to Person B the obvious fact that you are on the phone and engaged in a conversation with someone else, and that you'll be available to speak with him (Person B) just as soon as you're finished. You were talking to Person A first, so that should take precedence; and it's not like Person B couldn't SEE the phone IN YOUR HAND when they so impolitely interrupted your conversation.

Of course, if Person B happens to be your wife/girlfriend/Significant Other, all bets are off....

Answer 2

2

Answer 3

I would say excuse me a moment to the person on the line and then put my hand over the receiver. Then I would look at the person addressing me and tell them I'm on the phone now. I'd ask if what they have to tell me is important? At this point the person will usually say yes it is important or no it can wait.

If what they have to say takes priority over the the call, I would tell them to wait a second, then finish my call and then handle the problem. If my conversation on the phone takes priority over the concern of the person in front of me I would tell the person that I would get back to them when I'm off the phone.

If this is one person who keeps doing this to you, let them know how you want to be treated. Pull the person aside and politely explain to them that you would not like to be interrupted when you are on the phone unless it is an important matter.

Answer 4

I had a friend who was notorious for talking while I was on the phone. He thought that he was part of the conversation, and would respond to me and try to even talk to the person I was talking to on the phone. I decided he was rude and disrespectful, so each time he would start doing this, then I would leave the room and go somewhere where I could shut the door. He finally got the hint.

Answer 5

I usually tell person B that I will talk o hem nce I'm done with person A. Then, when I'm off the phone, I would tell the person that it is hard to talk to two poeple at the same time and that I find it kinda rude, posing the question "Do I talk to you when you are on the phone?"

However, if it's a child then I would tell person A to hold on a second/minute to see what they want.

What's worse is if person B doesn't like person A (if they know who it is). Then I tell person A that I will call them back and then deal with person B.

Answer 6

I am the exact same way. I ask the person in the room to stop talking until I can terminate my call or I hand them a piece of paper and a pen to write down their question.
Not every one is like this though, some people can have two conversations at once and hear every conversation.

Answer 7

ill tell u a better idea when someone is talkin to u on the phone n theres someone else with u just just say excuse me b n walk away from B so u can finish ur call with makin sure that ull understand everything from A n if u can just go to another room n finish ur phone call n come back to B

Answer 8

I tell the Person in the Room with me to SHUT IT , I'll be there in just a Second ! an i keep talking to the person on the phone !

Answer 9

I absolutely hate that, i work in an office so i am consitently on the phones & i cant stand when someone just comes in SEES me on the phone w/a client & starts rambling & talking over me, its one of my biggest pet peeves, but usually i just stick up my pointer (like one minute) and usually have a look on my face like wow dont you have any respect & i continue my conversation to person A full until completed & then iwill give my attention to the rude person who interrupted

Answer 10

I always complete my phone call before I concentrate on the person in the room. Make a gesture to B and let them know your on the phone and they will have to wait.