How can I signal my co-workers I'm not available for chit-chat?

[kelly]

I work in an open office, bullpen style. I don't mind chit-chat sometimes, but some days I just don't want to talk, and need to concentrate on my work. Yesterday I tried wearing headphones (which is technically not allowed in my office so it is a rarity to see someone with them) but it didn't work at all. Three times in two hours someone interrupted me, made me take off the headphones, just to tell me some inane non work-related thing. Both times I didn't respond at all and just put the headphones back on. But two of those times was the same person, so not responding at all didn't even work.

How else can I signal to my coworkers I want to be left alone to concentrate on work for an afternoon?

To make it harder, sometimes I don't actually have a big project I need to concentrate on, I just want to be left alone. So it's hard to say "leave me alone I have a deadline" when I'm just shuffling papers.

 

[Coconut Guy]

From my experience, I would just give them a broad smile and tell them that I would get back to them as soon as I finish something. You don't need to be specific about what you're finishing, but just simple and general like "Let me just finish a couple of these things here and then I'll talk to you."

That way, it prolongs their waiting agony and they'll concentrate on their work or other colleagues.

Hope this helps.

 

[Jamal]

Hi Kelly,

Sounds to me like your strategy is best...eventually they will get the hint....they should, anyways...

If it were me, if they went over 60 seconds I would say...."OK, I need to get back to work now." And proceed to ignore them after that. If they keep doing it repeatedly just ignore them completely unless it's work related.

;-)

 

[Judy]

Keep looking down at your work while they're talking - they might take the hint. If not, it's fair to say something like "I've got some things I have to get done, so can we talk at break time?"

 

[prbfc]

Kelly,

This is a really hard situation. My work is organized like that too...bullpen-like. After the person comes up and just begins to talk to you about an abviously non-workrelated issue, turn and face them and very sincerely tell them, "I'm sorry, but I just can't talk today. I am swamped and am on a very tight schedule to get my work done. I'm really sorry, but maybe we can talk tomorrow if I can get through all of this." Then just turn back around and go back to work. This usually won't damage your inter-office relationships and let you get back to doing what you want to be doing.

Be careful that you are not broadcasting signals to others that you are a person who enjoys the idle chit-chat by getting up and engaging others in similar talk when you are caught up on your work. If this is not the case and you are a person who wants to get their work done (well, 95% of the time anyway, right?) and if people are interupting you to the point that it is consistently affecting either the quality or quantity of your work, I'd recommend going in and talking to your supervisor confidentially and asking their advice on what can be done. Perhaps it could be as easy as moving people around to be more efficient. (Big offices do this frequently anyway) or perhaps they can re-emphasize a "no idle chit-chat" rule for the whole group so it doesn't look like its coming from you, or some other idea.

The important thing is that you should be sincere, polite, but ** firm,** when telling people that you are too busy to chat on those days.

 

[dingding]

For someone to interrupt you only 3 times in two hours is nothing. Keep the headphones on, it's probably your best bet. Be careful not to be too anti-social. You will be perceived as not fitting in, and it can result in being laid off.