How should a boss ask for less chat?

[anythinginapinch]

How would you want or expect your biggest boss - director/owner/CEO whatever, top of the food chain - to ask people who are standing around a desk chatting about non work stuff for twenty minutes a couple of times a day every day, to get on with their work?

I'd expect someone of that level of experience to have the appropriate level of skills and socialisation to manage this without issue!

Which would sound like what?

Ask them if there's something they need help with, any issues he/she (the CEO) needs to know about. Or asking directly if they're discussing the new coffee shop / local roadworks / bad weather impact on travel / new software that's been introduced etc.

How does he CEO (you?) know the staff are "chatting about non work stuff"??

I'd expect any manager to find the words, "Ok why are you standing around chatting, instead of working?"

Pretty standard stuff.

I was very surprised to find at my new work place everyone is trusted to manage their workload themselves and managers never intervene in any chat that’s going on.. it’s refreshing (but weird to get used to!)