Chatty colleagues

[Daffodilsforspring]

I work part time is a busy job where I need to really concentrate on some tasks.

I'm having a problem with colleagues stopping by my desk for a chat. These chats aren't about work just a friendly how are you/catching up with personal news.

The problem is about 4 or 5 colleagues will do this at least once every day each chat lasting about 10/15/20 minutes. I like my colleagues, I'm friendly with them but it's really starting to stress me out because I'm having to take work home because I'm not getting it done in the day.

I've tried headphones but found that people stop by and then smile and then stand and wait until I've taken them off and start chatting.

I don't want to want to be rude, I really like my colleagues, they are good people and I don't want to upset them.

No option to work at home unfortunately.

Any advice?

Don't take the headphones off. Carry on working until they give up and go away.

Just say that you need to get on with your work, or that you are a bit behind. Learn to end conversations, my DD complains about long conversations, but her communication style always leads into another topic. There's an art to ending a conversation without being abrupt.

I get this, luckily the colleague I sit next to is chattier than me so she tends to chat to them and I just carry on with my work. It's hard though, I get exactly what you mean. I used to have my own office where I used to work and found it much easier to concentrate and get my head down.

You need to get in ahead of them and tell them you can't chat and then politely but firmly stop them if they continue trying to engage you.

If you have your headphones on, when you see them come over, smile and carry on with your work. If they hang around by your desk, intimating that they want to chat, let them wait a few moments while you get to a good point to pause and then, as you are taking off the headphones (so before they get a chance to start the chit chat) say something like "Hi Linda, as lovely as it is to see you, is there something you need urgently? I'm right in the middle of something and its really not a good time for me to stop to chat"

If they are smart they'll either take the hint or at least ask a work related question but if they don't or they try and stretch the conversation to chit chat then you can politely interrupt with a "Sorry Linda, but like I said I'm actually really busy at the moment so I really don't have time to chat. I'll try and pop over/see you in the breakroom/catch up with you later when I'm finished but I really have to get back to work right now if I want to get this finished today" then a polite smile and put your headphones back on and go back to your work.

You don't have to be rude or aggressive, just be polite but make it clear that your time is not theirs to monopolise and you have work to do.