Plus, how to have a Crucial Conversation with remote coworker.
JANUARY 26, 2022 • VOL. 20 ISSUE 4
Hi John,
How do you tell someone they talk too much? In today’s Q&A, we highlight how the skills that encourage speaking up can be used to encourage listening up.
You’ll also find tips on tackling to-dos and interacting online.
CRUCIAL CONVERSATIONS FOR MASTERING DIALOGUE
HOW TO TELL AN EMPLOYEE THEY TALK TOO MUCH
by Emily Gregory
How do you tell an employee they talk too much? My employee often talks to the point of having to tune them out. They give every little detail and then repeat themselves and I cannot get a word in edgewise and I have to wait until they take a breath to interrupt them. I end up focusing on them taking that breath instead of listening.
Signed, Tired of the Talking
We receive many inquiries about how to get employees to speak up and share their perspective. Your email reminded me that there is another side to which the pendulum swings—an employee that talks too much! Though perhaps a less frequent problem than silent employees, over-talking contributes to frustration and communication breakdowns just like silence does.
Here are three tips for stepping up to this Crucial Conversation with your employee.
If you want to see someone during a virtual conversation, here’s what you can do: be clear about your intent, notify them beforehand, and make it safe for them to make the call.
Join us live online and learn how to manage workflow for improved focus and less stress. Based on the cult classic by David Allen, Getting Things Done teaches a practical skillset for handling the constant stream of to-dos and distractions experienced at all levels of the organization.
MAIN STREET NASHVILLE: OPPOSING OPINIONS DON'T HAVE TO LEAD TO HEATED CONVERSATIONS
“We were really enjoying ourselves when some people at the bar behind us started to talk loudly about, of all things, COVID-19. I tried hard to ignore them and concentrate on the game, but it was not to be.”
Each person is an island unto himself, in a very real sense; and he can only build bridges to other islands if he is first of all willing to be himself and permitted to be himself.
—Carl Rogers
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