Comments on: People Who Come to Distract You

By: Anca

Anca — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 10:38:18 +0000

One thing is clear: noise is a >a href="http://blog.cyclope-series.com/2009/04/noise-a-productivity-killer/">productivity killer. Including the noise your colleagues make while gossiping. Furthermore, socializing with co-workers is the second reason employees waste time at work. Here is a study that reveals what are the reasons employees waste time at work and how can managers stop them.

By: Jeremy

Jeremy — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 00:05:06 +0000

Or, you could just be honest and say, I have some work to do, can we continue this conversation later. That will not only get them out, but will set the tone for your relationship, and will present you as a straight shooter and a no BS employee. Then your opinions will be more valuable as honest reactions rather than butt tickling patronization or redirection. Of course, that’s just my opinion. Honestly works for you in the long run far better.

By: Denise Craig

Denise Craig — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 23:56:53 +0000

I share an office with two others, who both love to chit chat, so I started trying to work at home and found I wasn’t diciplined enough for that. Recently I tried the ear phones and that seemed to work really well. Also, I sit with my back to them, so not turning round to talk seems to help too, kind of the same as not looking up.

By: LeMel

LeMel — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 01:08:47 +0000

Regarding the #4 “chair” idea – you don’t have to cut the front legs – just raise the back ones somehow (thumbtacks, floor guards, etc).

By: B. Middlebrooks

B. Middlebrooks — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 21:52:21 +0000

Common responses that I use with people who tend to misappropriate my time:

“Thanks for stopping by…I have about 5 minutes!”
“I’m sorry…is it okay if we reschedule this at a time that works for BOTH of us?”
“I have a webinar that’s about to begin in two minutes!”

Thank you very much…I will pass these on!

By: Deb

Deb — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 18:48:15 +0000

I implement “Debbie time.” I have a small flag that stands on a file cabinet. When it is up, people in my office know to come back after lunch. There are a few who think that doesn’t apply to them & when they walk in to my cube, I just keep working & respond in short answers without looking at them.

By: quiet please

quiet please — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 15:59:45 +0000

I work in a small office and am often interrupted by clients or individuals who don’t plan to become clients but just want to have someone listen to them. I have to be polite and helpful but I am also not supposed to waste time when my boss is waiting for me to finish projects.

I have been known to keep my cell phone in my pocket and use it to dial my phone line. This way I receive an “emergency” call or several calls placed on hold while I am talking to the client. After the phone rings two or three times, they remember that I might need to help someone besides them. I have even used this technique to help co-workers get out of unproductive conversations.

By: Gordon

Gordon — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 20:30:53 +0000

I’d be more honest. Take control of the situation, ascertain if it is urgent or can wait. If it can wait, ask them to come back in [insert a time that suits you] when you’ll be happy to help.

A few times round that conversation and you’ll probably find that most ‘urgent’ conversations weren’t (something you should point out when it happens. “Ok, so it’s not urgent, do you mind if we come back to this tomorrow?”) and sometimes things have a habit of clearing themselves up without your intervention anyway.

All this, done with a smile, takes seconds and makes sure the you are setting a consistent expectation with the people you work with.

Ohh and if it’s the CEO, the answer is “yes of course, right away!”

By: Gina

Gina — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 19:22:33 +0000

I have a colleague who is utterly oblivious to any and all verbal and body-language cues. He comes to visit for an hour at a time…regularly. I can literally sit, typing at the computer and grunt, “mm hmm, uh huh” and he keeps talking regardless. My favorite secret weapon? http://www.wheresmycellphone.com I dial it, and carry on a work conversation with the recording until he leaves.

By: Laura

Laura — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 16:46:44 +0000

These are such great ideas, thanks everyone for posting them. I just got moved to a cubicle at the corner of the row and I’m facing the entry to the cube, so EVERY SINGLE PERSON that walks by stops and says something. It’s getting incredibly distracting but I’m not able to move my seat or face a different way, so I’m going to try some of these. Especially the headphones and not looking up right away.

One that I’m experimenting with is looking at the screen very distractedly as they are talking and then looking back and forth a couple times as though an important message has arrived. I would never ignore somebody for a message in real life, but when I’m trying to work, it seems to help move along the invaders.

By: Martin S.

Martin S. — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 19:32:55 +0000

Excellent stuff, this blog post is worth so much if you’re busy at work.

One thing you can do to avoid plain chit-chatting is to look busy too – wear earphones and you won’t be bothered as much.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 07 May 2008 20:42:07 +0000

If it isn’t possible to lower the legs, either due to policy or the legs being metal, you could raise them from the back instead.

By: brent

brent — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 22:34:41 +0000

I wait until I’m done with the conversation, then start doing something with my hands… there’s always SOME piece of paper that needs filing, or a pen that could be put away.

I’m an engineer, so I usually have some prototype or other half-built on my desk: I just start fiddling with that.

By: Mark Shead

Mark Shead — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 16:46:00 +0000

@Dennis – That’s great! I hadn’t thought of that. Just make sure that your corporate phone system doesn’t keep track of the last caller.

@Duane – I had a friend in college who wasn’t particularly social his first year. He would walk around listening to his walkman everywhere. At lunch he would sit by himself with his earphones on. When his batteries ran out, he was still uncomfortable talking to other people, so he just left them on. Then he realized that everyone was talking about him. “Does he have any friends?” “Has anyone every talked to him” etc.

By the time I got to college he was very well adjusted, had plenty of friends and didn’t wear his headphones around any more.

By: Dennis

Dennis — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 16:40:00 +0000

This only works if their phone is within earshot, but sometimes I can just look down for a minute and dial their phone number. After two rings I’ll make a comment like “Who’s phone is that ringing?” Once they leave, I simply hang up. This seems to get them sidetracked enough where they usually don’t come immediately back. Again, this only works in very select circumstances, but its great when it does.