How to politely tell someone I'm actually busy
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My method : headset + music.
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I have a work colleague who has a habit of disturbing me while I'm working. He's a great bloke in every other sense, but he will often disturb me while I'm working with non-work related conversations e.g. "Hey did you see this on the news this morning....." etc. These can occur at any time of the day, not just lunchtime. I appreciate his friendliness, but would also appreciate being left alone to get on with my job. I don't mind the work related discussion, but I find the non-work related chat a distraction. What's a polite way of telling them that I'm actually busy.
"There are two ways of constructing a software design: One way is to make it so simple that there are obviously no deficiencies, and the other way is to make it so complicated that there are no obvious deficiencies. The first method is far more difficult." - C.A.R. Hoare Home | LinkedIn | Google+ | Twitter
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Just pretend to zone out when they speak, like you are really focusing then say "huh... oh, sorry I was just lost in this work, what were you saying?" A few variations of that and they will eventually get the hint.
Doesn't work. I use that all the time, but my coworkers continue to talk to me all the same
Anything that is unrelated to elephants is irrelephant
Anonymous
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The problem with quotes on the internet is that you can never tell if they're genuine
Winston Churchill, 1944
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Never argue with a fool. Onlookers may not be able to tell the difference.
Mark Twain -
Doesn't work. I use that all the time, but my coworkers continue to talk to me all the same
Anything that is unrelated to elephants is irrelephant
Anonymous
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The problem with quotes on the internet is that you can never tell if they're genuine
Winston Churchill, 1944
-----
Never argue with a fool. Onlookers may not be able to tell the difference.
Mark Twain -
I have a work colleague who has a habit of disturbing me while I'm working. He's a great bloke in every other sense, but he will often disturb me while I'm working with non-work related conversations e.g. "Hey did you see this on the news this morning....." etc. These can occur at any time of the day, not just lunchtime. I appreciate his friendliness, but would also appreciate being left alone to get on with my job. I don't mind the work related discussion, but I find the non-work related chat a distraction. What's a polite way of telling them that I'm actually busy.
"There are two ways of constructing a software design: One way is to make it so simple that there are obviously no deficiencies, and the other way is to make it so complicated that there are no obvious deficiencies. The first method is far more difficult." - C.A.R. Hoare Home | LinkedIn | Google+ | Twitter
Try the truth: "I'm very busy right now. Can we talk later?"
BREAKING FAKE NEWS: Trump told the truth!
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I have a work colleague who has a habit of disturbing me while I'm working. He's a great bloke in every other sense, but he will often disturb me while I'm working with non-work related conversations e.g. "Hey did you see this on the news this morning....." etc. These can occur at any time of the day, not just lunchtime. I appreciate his friendliness, but would also appreciate being left alone to get on with my job. I don't mind the work related discussion, but I find the non-work related chat a distraction. What's a polite way of telling them that I'm actually busy.
"There are two ways of constructing a software design: One way is to make it so simple that there are obviously no deficiencies, and the other way is to make it so complicated that there are no obvious deficiencies. The first method is far more difficult." - C.A.R. Hoare Home | LinkedIn | Google+ | Twitter
Amazon.de: Do Not Disturb I'm Disturbed Enough As It Is! Blech-Wandschild zum Aufhängen[^] Hang it up when you need it, tell him when it's down you are free to talk.
if(!string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(_signature))
{
MessageBox.Show("This is my signature: " + Environment.NewLine + _signature);
}
else
{
MessageBox.Show("404-Signature not found");
} -
My method : headset + music.
This is my preferred route so far :)
"There are two ways of constructing a software design: One way is to make it so simple that there are obviously no deficiencies, and the other way is to make it so complicated that there are no obvious deficiencies. The first method is far more difficult." - C.A.R. Hoare Home | LinkedIn | Google+ | Twitter
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Just pretend to zone out when they speak, like you are really focusing then say "huh... oh, sorry I was just lost in this work, what were you saying?" A few variations of that and they will eventually get the hint.
I've tried this too, and it does seem quite effective :)
"There are two ways of constructing a software design: One way is to make it so simple that there are obviously no deficiencies, and the other way is to make it so complicated that there are no obvious deficiencies. The first method is far more difficult." - C.A.R. Hoare Home | LinkedIn | Google+ | Twitter
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Amazon.de: Do Not Disturb I'm Disturbed Enough As It Is! Blech-Wandschild zum Aufhängen[^] Hang it up when you need it, tell him when it's down you are free to talk.
if(!string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(_signature))
{
MessageBox.Show("This is my signature: " + Environment.NewLine + _signature);
}
else
{
MessageBox.Show("404-Signature not found");
}Now that could come in very handy :thumbsup:
"There are two ways of constructing a software design: One way is to make it so simple that there are obviously no deficiencies, and the other way is to make it so complicated that there are no obvious deficiencies. The first method is far more difficult." - C.A.R. Hoare Home | LinkedIn | Google+ | Twitter
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Amazon.de: Do Not Disturb I'm Disturbed Enough As It Is! Blech-Wandschild zum Aufhängen[^] Hang it up when you need it, tell him when it's down you are free to talk.
if(!string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(_signature))
{
MessageBox.Show("This is my signature: " + Environment.NewLine + _signature);
}
else
{
MessageBox.Show("404-Signature not found");
}Yes, when I was an employee of GE, they had given all the employees a big placard to hang at the desk, having the words "Imagination at Work" which was another way of telling that "I am thinking and working; leave me alone".
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Amazon.de: Do Not Disturb I'm Disturbed Enough As It Is! Blech-Wandschild zum Aufhängen[^] Hang it up when you need it, tell him when it's down you are free to talk.
if(!string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(_signature))
{
MessageBox.Show("This is my signature: " + Environment.NewLine + _signature);
}
else
{
MessageBox.Show("404-Signature not found");
}I worked at a place that would legit have "Do not disturb" hours for the staff. They were having issues with too many interruptions that were actually work related. So for a couple of distributed hours sets of people would have a sign up. It was to help people collect a list of questions before interrupting their supervisors instead of interrupting them every time they hit a question. Seemed to help.
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I have a work colleague who has a habit of disturbing me while I'm working. He's a great bloke in every other sense, but he will often disturb me while I'm working with non-work related conversations e.g. "Hey did you see this on the news this morning....." etc. These can occur at any time of the day, not just lunchtime. I appreciate his friendliness, but would also appreciate being left alone to get on with my job. I don't mind the work related discussion, but I find the non-work related chat a distraction. What's a polite way of telling them that I'm actually busy.
"There are two ways of constructing a software design: One way is to make it so simple that there are obviously no deficiencies, and the other way is to make it so complicated that there are no obvious deficiencies. The first method is far more difficult." - C.A.R. Hoare Home | LinkedIn | Google+ | Twitter
No idea... I wouldn't bother being polite.
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I have a work colleague who has a habit of disturbing me while I'm working. He's a great bloke in every other sense, but he will often disturb me while I'm working with non-work related conversations e.g. "Hey did you see this on the news this morning....." etc. These can occur at any time of the day, not just lunchtime. I appreciate his friendliness, but would also appreciate being left alone to get on with my job. I don't mind the work related discussion, but I find the non-work related chat a distraction. What's a polite way of telling them that I'm actually busy.
"There are two ways of constructing a software design: One way is to make it so simple that there are obviously no deficiencies, and the other way is to make it so complicated that there are no obvious deficiencies. The first method is far more difficult." - C.A.R. Hoare Home | LinkedIn | Google+ | Twitter
Don't take your eyes off of your monitor, keep typing, but start leaning towards the other guy as if you were about to turn your head to face him, but don't do it just yet--clearly acknowledging his presence, but making it obvious you're trying to complete this one last thing before facing him. Then in one brisk move, bring your full attention back to your monitor as if you've just spotted an error that needs an immediate correction. Start over again. Do it a couple of times. Exaggerate it all like one of those extended Family Guy skits that takes forever to go anywhere.
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I have a work colleague who has a habit of disturbing me while I'm working. He's a great bloke in every other sense, but he will often disturb me while I'm working with non-work related conversations e.g. "Hey did you see this on the news this morning....." etc. These can occur at any time of the day, not just lunchtime. I appreciate his friendliness, but would also appreciate being left alone to get on with my job. I don't mind the work related discussion, but I find the non-work related chat a distraction. What's a polite way of telling them that I'm actually busy.
"There are two ways of constructing a software design: One way is to make it so simple that there are obviously no deficiencies, and the other way is to make it so complicated that there are no obvious deficiencies. The first method is far more difficult." - C.A.R. Hoare Home | LinkedIn | Google+ | Twitter
If you are busy and it's nothing important, get into the habit of not acknowledging them immediately...maybe at least a 10 second pause before looking up, or finishing that line of code. Also, continuing to type while they talk can also get the point across. One trick I've not been able to master though is typing and talking at the same time. :laugh:
"Go forth into the source" - Neal Morse
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Don't take your eyes off of your monitor, keep typing, but start leaning towards the other guy as if you were about to turn your head to face him, but don't do it just yet--clearly acknowledging his presence, but making it obvious you're trying to complete this one last thing before facing him. Then in one brisk move, bring your full attention back to your monitor as if you've just spotted an error that needs an immediate correction. Start over again. Do it a couple of times. Exaggerate it all like one of those extended Family Guy skits that takes forever to go anywhere.
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I have a work colleague who has a habit of disturbing me while I'm working. He's a great bloke in every other sense, but he will often disturb me while I'm working with non-work related conversations e.g. "Hey did you see this on the news this morning....." etc. These can occur at any time of the day, not just lunchtime. I appreciate his friendliness, but would also appreciate being left alone to get on with my job. I don't mind the work related discussion, but I find the non-work related chat a distraction. What's a polite way of telling them that I'm actually busy.
"There are two ways of constructing a software design: One way is to make it so simple that there are obviously no deficiencies, and the other way is to make it so complicated that there are no obvious deficiencies. The first method is far more difficult." - C.A.R. Hoare Home | LinkedIn | Google+ | Twitter
Dominic Burford wrote:
What's a polite way of telling them that I'm actually busy.
Two words: starts with a capital F and ends in a lower case f, and has 7 letters total.
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No idea... I wouldn't bother being polite.
Exactly. :thumbsup:
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Dominic Burford wrote:
What's a polite way of telling them that I'm actually busy.
Two words: starts with a capital F and ends in a lower case f, and has 7 letters total.
Fell off ? You ... push them ?
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I have a work colleague who has a habit of disturbing me while I'm working. He's a great bloke in every other sense, but he will often disturb me while I'm working with non-work related conversations e.g. "Hey did you see this on the news this morning....." etc. These can occur at any time of the day, not just lunchtime. I appreciate his friendliness, but would also appreciate being left alone to get on with my job. I don't mind the work related discussion, but I find the non-work related chat a distraction. What's a polite way of telling them that I'm actually busy.
"There are two ways of constructing a software design: One way is to make it so simple that there are obviously no deficiencies, and the other way is to make it so complicated that there are no obvious deficiencies. The first method is far more difficult." - C.A.R. Hoare Home | LinkedIn | Google+ | Twitter
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I have a work colleague who has a habit of disturbing me while I'm working. He's a great bloke in every other sense, but he will often disturb me while I'm working with non-work related conversations e.g. "Hey did you see this on the news this morning....." etc. These can occur at any time of the day, not just lunchtime. I appreciate his friendliness, but would also appreciate being left alone to get on with my job. I don't mind the work related discussion, but I find the non-work related chat a distraction. What's a polite way of telling them that I'm actually busy.
"There are two ways of constructing a software design: One way is to make it so simple that there are obviously no deficiencies, and the other way is to make it so complicated that there are no obvious deficiencies. The first method is far more difficult." - C.A.R. Hoare Home | LinkedIn | Google+ | Twitter
I have a sign I place outside my cube that looks something like this:
Do Not Disturb Unless it's on fire
Software Zen:
delete this;