To tell new starter to be quiet?

[notetakerforlife]

Managing a team and have a new starter that keeps asking questions - and chiming in to other people's conversations thinking she's been helpful but it's just annoying.

They've not been here very long so I don't want to say the wrong thing and then they feel they can't ask questions and get something wrong but the things they ask are always just not that important - like finicky stuff that really isn't going to mean the world ends.

Would it be bad to say not to ask questions unless necessary? I really don't know how to approach it as they're new.

Or do I just Suck it up?

Reframe what’s happening by saying ‘that’s an interesting question and when we’ve concluded this task, we will address it’. If they continue, repeat.

Thank you so so much for the helpful suggestions on here - I've set myself a reminder this weekend to set an agenda for an extended induction and half day training session next week and I will implement a daily catch-up for them to ask questions. I will also ask their thoughts on how they've settled and where they want to learn more.

This thread has been very helpful (or at least the helpful posters have).

Some posters honestly, have been dicks. But AIBU guess to be expected.

I mean, those saying 'if you're not patient you shouldn't manage' WTAF - is that the response when people post about sleep deprivation or their kids playing up? People post saying 'shouldn't be a parent if you can't be patient'!!!??? No, because it sounds ridiculous doesn't it.

Anyway thanks to sensible helpful posters

IME there are two sides to every story, Op. Don't assume you are always right is a good starting point.

@makingarunforit I never said I was right. If I was right, I wouldn't have taken tips from half the players here would I?

And yes, I've name changed before anyone things they're smug pointing it out.

OP good luck with the induction next week hope it goes well 😊

@nCemplument Well. that's how you came across. You assumed the problem was the employee when you started this thread.

There are two sides to every story. Put yourself in the other person's shoes. Sounds like they are trying to engage, ask questions and make the tea and you're on here slagging them off. Sounds like they've done considering the shit start you've offered them with little to no direction and just an expectation that they should know what they're doing by osmosis and glares from you.

@fetchacloth thank you ☺️

Could they have attention problems. I sometimes do things like this do I know it’s annoying but I just can’t help myself.

The global company I work for has just hired someone like this (Well 4 months ago) and I myself spent weeks training her as well as my direct manager and colleagues and I tell you what you'd think it was her first day everyday. It's like trying to work with my 16 year old daughter who has no initiative or self awareness however on the same level she's super arrogant and literally needs her hand held for everything and she's come from the same field of work just different services. She even called our upper management in a different state and cried she wasnt being supported (it was 2 days she had to be in office without us as we were all on xmas leave she was surrounded by competent people who she couldve asked for help) Turned out she did infact have support but needed attention and recognition.I have had multiple calls after hours, on annual leave and more so within office time and shes tried to get a few people in trouble but mostly she comes across stupid but will treat anybody like they're beneath her! My manager has been and is amazing and someone I really look up too, I can she how stressed and tired, this woman has worn her to an absolute nub. You can see her patience is wearing thin and she was so happy that we finally had a full team as it's a lengthy interviewing and induction process. But the rest of us aren't getting the mentoring and support we need because this woman takes up literally her whole day! My manager is really trying to create a team environment and let on that is all ok but we're all suffering for the sake of this one newbie who can't seem to retain or grasp the scope of her job! She sure does she the customers as walking dollar signs though (She came from real estate sales) however we are more about building relationships and tailoring the sale around their needs and out recommendations bot just overselling for the sake of a sale. I Don't particularly like this woman and think by the time they couldve sacked her and gone through the entire process with someone who was switched on we would still be in a better position than if we kept her but it's not my say, I love my job and what I do however it's been the reason i've started looking elsewhere as I cannot handle the environment she's created that used to be a happy place for many of us. She's had multiple complaints from other staff too.

You haven’t done an induction and you’re annoyed they are asking questions 🧐 sorry but you only have yourself to blame. You should be glad she is asking questions and not doing what she thinks is best and getting things wrong. It sounds like the main issue is your lack of time and stress levels. I’d start there and on an induction which should’ve been delivered when she started.
If after the settling in period and induction/training she’s still not getting it, that’s a different matter.

Agree with Titchy. Ask for questions at the end of a meeting, or suggest they write them down and see you at the end to discuss concerns. Some people cannot remember issues that occur to them and have to articulate them straightaway, although I thought this was something happened to much older people. Sympathise with you as it can make discussions/meetings go off at a tangent and waste time.

She is probably just anxious being a new starter and asks silly basic questions to make sure in her own mind that she is on the right path. Your updated post on how to handle her from now on with training and time for a questions/ answers sounds very good. I hope it works itself out well.

I would feel exactly the same , it drives me mental one day a week I have a lady in that just talks all day , so I go home with a headache every Friday - I think she is scared of silence , where I love it ! (When I’m working and busy)

I would have a meeting be honest say your busy and can’t have all day distractions and your not saying you can’t ask questions but try and see if they can get the answer before they ask as it will help their learning , or ask other members of the team .

Sometimes, when you’re doing a lot of listening (I do this) I’ll ask a question or point something out that I haven’t really thought through but I need to put a pause on the influx of information so I can absorb it. My head can go a bit spinny with it all. Maybe that’s what is going on.
Even though professionally she might be familiar with it all, when you are new to a job you’re not just taking in how to do the job. It’s also the surroundings the people how it all works.

People being critical to the OP should take their own advice and pop along for some management training. Some of the comments here lack diplomacy, respect and reflect what they are accusing the op of..

She's trying to learn. As she receives the answers to the questions, hopefully she'll need to ask fewer questions. She may not be confident enough atm to forge ahead without checking first. I think you're being a bit harsh, tbh.

A quick update, I've now had more negative feedback about this person from other senior managers to say they're not sure about the person and need to be kept an eye on (not just for talking too much but other reasons)

I'm concerned, haven't done the induction yet but I have a feeling this isn't going to end well I just have a bad feeling about the person.

I feel for you on this. I had a new starter once who did exactly the same, I decided to not do anything about it and hoped he'd grow out of it as he settled into the job. I don't know what I could have done, but I wish I'd done something as he ended up having a huge attitude problem that took a long time to correct.

@juice92 yes I'm concerned it's the start of other behavioural problems to be honest.

@nCemplument

Name change fail.

I would delete these comments.

@Calphurnia88 it's not a fail as o pointed out a few posts ago I just didn't want linked posts that's alll and I can't be bothered to keep changing it

OK then...

Your post from 2 days ago mentions you're off sick at the moment. Appreciate you can't help being ill, but no induction and you not being around isn't going to help with the 'behavioural problems' you've diagnosed her with.

The company you work for sounds a bit of a mess TBH.

What sort of manager are you?
Ever heard of the phrase no question is a silly question? If you can’t manage her yourself, enlist another to be a buddy and get them to filter the more serious questions to you. Obviously.