I have a co-worker who, if you don't mind, has a bad case of verbal diahrrea. Basically, he can take a short set of instructions and spin it into a whole load of nonsense, he also speaks in movie lines, puns, and other things that have little to do with anything. Basically, he talks just to hear and amuse himself. I have told him several times to not do it, but he ignores it. How can I deal with this in a polite and civil manner?
2007-08-20 17:53:07 · 35 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
One very effective way to get someone to leave you alone, is to just sit and look at them and not make any facial expression and do not speak. Not one word.
It takes a little bit of patience, but try it. You will be surprised how fast it works.
Oh, and don't take the advice of any of the people above who told you to lie. That just prolongs it because he always is thinking you aren't paying attention because you CAN'T, so he will keep trying to get the opportunitiy when you can. If you simply let him know it isn't working for you when he talks and talks and talks, he will take his chatter elsewhere--or, if you're all very lucky--he will stop it.
2007-08-20 18:00:13 · answer #1 · answered by Einsteinetta 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Have you tried putting Krazy Glue on the rim of his coffee cup?
Sounds like polite and civil is too subtle. Someone like that needs to be hit over the head! By any chance, is your supervisor the kind of person you can talk to about this, and he or she will deal with the situation firmly but without causing hard feelings? How do your co-workers feel? Can you talk to him -- politely but firmly -- as a unified group?
Fighting fire with fire can be dangerous, but maybe you could all try talking out loud, just as he does, for 10 minutes when no clients are around?
Or, better yet, tape record him. Maybe hearing himself will shock him into stopping.
2007-08-20 18:05:41 · answer #2 · answered by Diana 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I'm in the exact same fix, the guy talks all day about stupid crap I care nothing about. He is so attention starved its just pathetic. He is like a little kid constantly wanting someone to listen to him. And he annoys me to no end. I finally just quit talking to him and answering him. If he asked me a question about my personal life I'd tell him 'it's really none of your business.' I just quit reacting altogether, not even making eye contact with him. This has helped as he has more or less stopped asking me personal questions and doesn't try to talk to me much. On the downside, he took to turning around in his chair, facing towards me, and talking to the guy behind me. Just today I asked my manager if she could please talk to him about his constant talking. She ended up switching places with him so I would not have to be right next to him which is going to go a long way in saving my sanity. In the case you can't be moved or can't talk to your boss about it, I'd say your best bet is completely ignoring him. If he's like my coworker he is very immature and needs constant attention. If you ignore him, he may just get tired of you not giving him what he wants.
2007-08-21 17:06:21 · answer #3 · answered by siddyb75 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I agree with the answerer who thinks he is doing this to get your attention. Perhaps he's showing off for you. It's obviously not working.
You can always politely interrupt and ask a question about the instructions he is giving. For example, "I'm sorry, Darren, I didn't quite catch the last thing I'm supposed to do."
2007-08-20 21:05:31 · answer #4 · answered by drshorty 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
This is an easy one and you will thank me.
So when he gets his gab on, just start repeating him.
ie... Put the pink copies in the 3rd drawer, and then you say the 3rd drawer? This will throw him off. and then he will continue, the pink copies need to be filled correctly and then you say, Filled correctly?
You get the point. He will get so flustered he will rush through just to get away from you and he won't be mad at you because you really didnt do anything to him. You just messed with his head and he didnt even know it.
Trust me this works wonders.
2007-08-20 18:00:51 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I would suggest prefacing your interactions with this guy by saying, "I only have a few minutes, so can you tell me quickly about XYZ?" Then, after two or three minutes, look at your watch and tell him you have to go, even if he hasn't finished talking. After a few conversations are cut short, he'll learn to get to the point when speaking with you.
2007-08-20 18:00:26 · answer #6 · answered by artemisaodc1 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Try this one:
"What? You talk so much I wasn't paying attention to you."
Or simply do that - quit paying attention. I worked with a woman who spoke nearly non-stop from the time she arrived at work until she went home. I finally quit answering ANYTHING she said and she quit speaking to me. It was just the punishment I deserved - and wanted.
2007-08-20 17:59:45 · answer #7 · answered by Dave 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Take control of the conversation and don't let it go!! Tell him you are on a timetable and to keep it short or you are out of there and onto something else and he can do the project himself.
2007-08-20 18:43:37 · answer #8 · answered by gma 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Copy and paste the link to this sting of answers with a short email explaining that his mannerisms are annoying, distracting and unwelcome, and to prove it, here's what a group of complete strangers thinks.
2007-08-27 05:42:39 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
If you watch the office then your co-worker would be Andy if I may say. Move Andy's desk into the bathroom before he gets to work and then he will understand that he is a jackass.
2007-08-20 17:59:10 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋