Cubicle Talker! Help
Q: I have a coworker that sits in the cubicle next to me that is continuously chatting with me throughout the workday. She has become a very annoying aspect of my job, and gets in the way of my work. How do I know if it is appropriate to approach my boss and ask to move to another cube?
A: Before you contact the boss, you should talk to your co-worker. Strange as it may sound, she may not even realize she is annoying you, especially since it appears you are chatting with her.
The next time she talks too much, speak up and be assertive with her. Many women fear hurting others’ feelings and won’t tell coworkers, friends, boyfriends, etc. that what they are doing is bothering them.
As I say in my book, The Power of Positive Confrontation, speak calmly and politely. Say something like, “Let me talk to you later. I have to get this work done.” If she continues to talk, you can keep repeating, “You know Mary, I really need to get work done. Let’s talk later.” or “Let’s talk at lunch.” I would then make a point of chatting with her at lunch or at the end of the day.
