Dear Lee – Please, I'm Trying to Work!

I work in a high traffic area. I like the occasional chat with my coworkers, but more and more I'm finding that I am being pulled into 10- to 15-minute gabfests as people pass by my desk. How do I deflect the attention without seeming unfriendly or rude? By the way, changing locations is not an option.

Sincerely,

Just let me work!

Time-Stealers … Chatty Cathys … whatever you call them, we've all been guilty of being one at one time or another. (I know I have!)

Since moving isn't an option, you could employ a tactic a friend of mine uses when he doesn't have the time, or the desire, to talk to others. Where he works, he occasionally has to do repairs. So when he doesn't want to deal with people interrupting him, he stomps around carrying a big wrench and wearing a scowl on his face. It always makes him look like he's on his way to do some frustrating and difficult task. No one ever stops him when he's wearing that scowl and carrying that wrench!

Now, I'm not suggesting that you carry around a wrench – although that would be a good deterrent – but if you see a time-stealer headed your way, you could put your head down and wear a scowl of concentration on your face. Or you could pick up the phone and wear a scowl of impatience on your face. Or you could hunch over your computer keyboard with a scowl of irritation on your face. You'll look like you're in the middle of a very serious task, and not even the worst time-stealer is likely muster up the courage to interrupt you.